Stuart's Landsknecht thread, new painting 14/05

[FierceKitty]

Good to see a few in armour. Especially so well painted.

[Corso]

Great stuff mate - very realistic!

[Baron von Nickedoften]

What a nice change to see landsknechts portrayed as they actually would have looked in real life, and not the gaudy peacocks that most wargamers depict them as.  I have to create an early Henrician army for a wargames competition in September and will be bookmarking your website as a painting source. 

Sorry, I meant to say as THE painting source!

[Paul Richardson]

Stuart,

These are really inspirational. May I ask a couple of questions (and please forgive me, I know nothing about the subject):

1. would each landsknecht dress in colours of his own choosing? I seem to remember seeing a unit of Swiss from the same period where groups of figures had been painted in cantonal colours -ie, colours which reflected the flag of their canton; and

2. I imagine that many manufacturers make landsknecht figures. Which are your personal favourites?

Thanks,

Paul

[Stuart]

BVN, thanks very much, get in touch if you want help with the flags or army organisation.

Paul, my favourites are the Perry sculpted Wargames Foundry Landsknechts, I never tire of painting them.

As for the colours they were indeed individual in their clothing, dress was dictated by class and this was very much their visual rebellion at this. Unlike the Swiss they did not dress in cantonal or city colours, the one exception being a contingent raised by Wilibald von Pirkheimer who were in red and white, there may have been others but this unit was noted as such.

Still, cloth cost money so chaps on double pay (doppelsondners), typically arquebusiers and men with double handed swords were more flamboyant in variety of colour and cut of cloth whereas the rank and file are typically depicted in one or two colours with contrasting hose.

Personally I mix it up a bit and have stripes in abundance, you see that on a lot of woodcuts.

Have a look at the painting guide for more pointers.

Hope that helps

Stuart

[Paul Richardson]

Hi Stuart,

Many thanks for the reply. All very interesting and very tempting.

Paul

[Dr DeAth]

Very impressive, I've tried painting Landsknechts a few times and always been disappointed in the results.  Yours however are delightful.

[Metternich]

Stuart, you are undoubtedly the finest painter of miniatures of this period.  I am, as always, awestruck at your depictions.

[Stuart]

Landsknechts in French service currently on the workbench

[Gangleri]

Stunning as always.  They look like they've been lifted straight from a period illustration.

[DonVoss]

Great work again...

DV

[Paul Richardson]

Beautiful work.

[Lt. Hazel]

So pretty!!! You are truly one of the great Renaissance Artists 

[Romark]

I agree with all the others,stunning work on those minis ☺

[Baron von Nickedoften]

Excellent.

I recognise all the figures except the two-handed swordsman and the ensign with the blue fleur-de-lys flag.  The others all seem to be Foundry, but where do the other two come from?