Continuing my interest in Greek history is 60mm white metal figure from Greek Heroes, http://www.greekheroes.gr/

Information about Botsaris can be found here,
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Markos_Botsaris

As is hopefully evident from the photo's this really is a beautifully sculpted and cast piece.

I've got as far as assembling and priming this one, only the pistol holster has been left off for the present.

Come on Roger, slap some paint on. The casting is superb and I am sure you will do it justice.

I've just got a base coat of flesh on Bob so I'm up and running.

Wish I could paint and run.

It's actually more of a brisk walk.

That's two to finish before your hols.

Malc

I've got about 9 days left of this leave and then back to sea Malc so we'll see how far I get. Hols next leave.

You get more leave than us pensioners.

Malc

I like to refer to it as semi retirement, practice for the real thing.

A superb piece indeed(part of my GA)with some great history behind it.Really looking forward to seeing your painted version.

Oda.

A bit further with this one.

Looking good so far Roger.
It's an impressive figure and I'm sure you'll do it justice.

Thanks very much Trex.
I am very impressed with it and I'm sure I will be making further purchases from Greek Heroes.

I have all their line.They are remarkable figurines even more so because they depict much loved personalities of the Greek Independence war.May I suggest since you are probably British,that you paint-in the future-the company's beautiful rendition of Lord Byron(absolutely worshiped here in Greece so much so that most modern Greeks think of him as a countryman) following a very well known painting of the era.As for Botzaris,he was the leader of one of the most powerful and illustrious Souliote clans(the Souliotes were a proud and martial people of Epirous-Northern Greece).Hero of the independence and scholar(he was the first person ever to write Greek-Albanian dictionary-a very rare book these days,a copy of which I have)he was a person of international fame.Even today,if you visit Paris-France- you'll find a rue de Botzaris.

You know Oda you have an uncanny knack of reading my mind. Yesterday I thought I should really paint Lord Byron and actually stared doing some research into his life and involvement in the Greek War of Independence.

I have also just started reading this, perhaps it could be a little clue as to what could be included in my next Greek Heroes purchase.

The company produces a few subjects from the Balkan wars and they are very good.As for Lord Byron may I suggest:"The Philellenes" by C.Woodhouse,a colonel of the British army,attache to the Greek guerilla bands in WWII,MP for Oxford and a Philellenas(it means friend of the Greeks).An old school author,writing in the best English literary style.Absolutely a pleasure to read.

Oda.

Thanks very much Oda, I will have a look at that.

What a way to learn a language. Have fun!!!

Cheers

Huw

Let me share here some pictures that I have as reference for Markos Botsaris.

All of them are of course artistic depictions of the hero.


Oil painting of Botsaris bust at the National Archaeological museum:



Botsaris and his comrades, historical book image by Baraldi Severino:



Botsaris attacking Karpenisi, wall painting at the Greek Parliament:



Botsaris bronze bust at Souli:



A painting by Louis Dupre, showing the long pipe and the sheep coat (κάπα) similar to those sculpted on the figure:



Painting of Botsaris at children's historical book:



The death of Botsaris, oil painting by Ludovico Lipparini:

That's great! Thank you very much Trex.