The starting gun has fired and the painting tally for August is out of the blocks. A block of pike, that is. Building a block of pike is always approached with care. For me, painting 39 28mm figures at one time is cumbersome to say the least especially when dangerous pike heads are poised to poke the careless. I do not relish the process but I am certainly pleased when the job is finished. That is the situation with this block.
Off the painting desk is a three-stand pike block consisting of the last of the Old Glory pikemen remaining in The Lead Pile. A large quantity of Foundry Landsknecht pikemen remains as well as a handful or two of Artizan Landsknecht pikemen. Likely enough figures to field two more pike blocks. Perhaps, even three! No more planned for the immediate future, though. It takes time to forget the experience before I am tempted again.
The figures are a mix of armored and unarmored Old Glory Swiss/Italian pikemen. This block brings the total pike blocks in the project to seven. Enough for most battles, I think. Flags are Pete's Flags. I need a rest...
“Most glorious unit this year” is a weighty moniker. So many units have crossed the workbench this year, I need to look back to confirm. The number of figures, uniform variety, and colorful flags certainly put this one near the top. Thanks for your comments, Norm!
I had to carry a flag of the Napoleonics in a reenactment-battle 20 years ago on a windy day. I ask myself how difficult it must be to bear such a large flag on a long pike? Obviously These flagbearers have to be giants. Even a four meter long pike alone without a flag is very difficult to bear on a windy day. (I had the experience last April).
Very nice pikes. They are looking as they are made most recently (very light shafts). I love the depth of the unit.
Thank you! Enjoyed your first hand account of manhandling a flag. I recall how difficult the task is during a light breeze when I was a young guy. The force of the wind against the flag nearly knocked to the ground.
Pikes are always nice and the focal point of many a Renaissance battle.
I find the contemporary Pictures very confusing. If you see single flagbearers, then the shaft of the flag is very very short. But if you see complete formations, you can clearly identify the flags flying over the long pikes. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlacht_bei_Sablat#/media/Datei:Schlacht_von_Zablat_Hogenbersche_Geschichtsblätter.JPG For example here, the Spanish flags on the left block of pikes. But on the right with the Protestant musketeers the poles of the flaggs are definetly short. In fact I never saw an original flag with pole of the period of Long pikes (16th-17th century).
You provide interesting information regarding flags. Thank you for the period illustration too. For me, having the colors attached to pikes is artistic license just as your illustration demonstrates. Perhaps in period illustrations or paintings of a single, close-up figure, the standard is artistically shortened in order to fit it all within one frame?
Maybe or it's the opposit, that the flags over their units are painted for the viewer to identify the Units on the print. On Callot's famous Picture the flags are extremely big (I ask myself how someone should bear such a flag): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:The_Miseries_and_Misfortunes_of_War?uselang=de#/media/File:Les_misères_et_les_malheurs_de_la_guerre_-_02_-_L'enrôlement_des_troupes.png The size during the early 16th century is mostly very short: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsknecht#/media/Datei:Standard_Bearer_and_Drummer.jpg That is the size the Italian and swiss flagbearers use until today to swing their flags. https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsknecht#/media/Datei:Standard_bearer_fighting_against_five_landsknechts.jpg I found only one example by Altdorfer, which has a flagbearer with a flag on a pike: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsknecht#/media/Datei:Albrecht_Altdorfer_040.jpg On Altdorfer's paintings it's remarkable that the flagbearers almost always swing the flag over their head. That should be very difficult for a whole battle.
Pleased to see more of your fine supporting data gathering. I always thought the Italian and Swiss processional flags were short by design in order to perform their theatrics. I did not realize this was the standard length for battle flags.
Lovely looking pike block! Don't worry it doesn't take long before you start fancying painting another pike block, I've just started another one! Best Iain
Lovely work. Those Old Glory Italian Wars models are great, wish the same could be said for other figures from them, it's such a lottery for what turns up.
Surely your most glorious unit this year. A painting batch of 39 is as impressive as the unit is beautiful.
ReplyDelete“Most glorious unit this year” is a weighty moniker. So many units have crossed the workbench this year, I need to look back to confirm. The number of figures, uniform variety, and colorful flags certainly put this one near the top. Thanks for your comments, Norm!
DeleteThe unit really does look quite spectacular with their tunic colours, long pikes, and flags.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter!
DeleteI can only concur with Norm's and Peter's comments!
ReplyDeleteI appreciate your concurrence!
DeleteSimply beautiful Jonathan,and the right size of block to make them look formidable.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Robbie! Three stands of thirteen combined into one makes for a solid and formidable block to my eye. Good to see you agree!
DeleteYou have done a beautiful job on these figures, Jonathan
ReplyDeleteThanks, Keith!
DeleteLove the mix of colours in the unit. Nice work!!
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, Ray!
DeletePikes are always nice.
ReplyDeleteI had to carry a flag of the Napoleonics in a reenactment-battle 20 years ago on a windy day. I ask myself how difficult it must be to bear such a large flag on a long pike? Obviously These flagbearers have to be giants.
Even a four meter long pike alone without a flag is very difficult to bear on a windy day. (I had the experience last April).
Very nice pikes. They are looking as they are made most recently (very light shafts).
I love the depth of the unit.
Great work,
Thank you! Enjoyed your first hand account of manhandling a flag. I recall how difficult the task is during a light breeze when I was a young guy. The force of the wind against the flag nearly knocked to the ground.
DeletePikes are always nice and the focal point of many a Renaissance battle.
I find the contemporary Pictures very confusing. If you see single flagbearers, then the shaft of the flag is very very short. But if you see complete formations, you can clearly identify the flags flying over the long pikes.
Deletehttps://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schlacht_bei_Sablat#/media/Datei:Schlacht_von_Zablat_Hogenbersche_Geschichtsblätter.JPG
For example here, the Spanish flags on the left block of pikes. But on the right with the Protestant musketeers the poles of the flaggs are definetly short.
In fact I never saw an original flag with pole of the period of Long pikes (16th-17th century).
You provide interesting information regarding flags. Thank you for the period illustration too. For me, having the colors attached to pikes is artistic license just as your illustration demonstrates. Perhaps in period illustrations or paintings of a single, close-up figure, the standard is artistically shortened in order to fit it all within one frame?
DeleteMaybe or it's the opposit, that the flags over their units are painted for the viewer to identify the Units on the print.
DeleteOn Callot's famous Picture the flags are extremely big (I ask myself how someone should bear such a flag): https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:The_Miseries_and_Misfortunes_of_War?uselang=de#/media/File:Les_misères_et_les_malheurs_de_la_guerre_-_02_-_L'enrôlement_des_troupes.png
The size during the early 16th century is mostly very short: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsknecht#/media/Datei:Standard_Bearer_and_Drummer.jpg
That is the size the Italian and swiss flagbearers use until today to swing their flags.
https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsknecht#/media/Datei:Standard_bearer_fighting_against_five_landsknechts.jpg
I found only one example by Altdorfer, which has a flagbearer with a flag on a pike: https://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Landsknecht#/media/Datei:Albrecht_Altdorfer_040.jpg
On Altdorfer's paintings it's remarkable that the flagbearers almost always swing the flag over their head. That should be very difficult for a whole battle.
Pleased to see more of your fine supporting data gathering. I always thought the Italian and Swiss processional flags were short by design in order to perform their theatrics. I did not realize this was the standard length for battle flags.
DeleteAn impressive achievement: 39 28mm figs, and Renaissance era no less. Lovely unit!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Ed!
DeleteLovely looking pike block! Don't worry it doesn't take long before you start fancying painting another pike block, I've just started another one!
ReplyDeleteBest Iain
Thanks, Iain! I likely won’t be able to hold off for long either. We are gluttons for punishment.
DeleteVery impressive pikemen, Jonathan. Great work on them.
ReplyDeleteI assume the flagpole is not necessary to be as long as a pike. So holding a flag was doable.
Thanks, Dmitry! Yes, you are correct about flagpole vs pike length.
Delete39 pike men... holy smokes! And you have 7 of these?!?!
ReplyDeleteYep! Seven and counting.
DeleteLovely work. Those Old Glory Italian Wars models are great, wish the same could be said for other figures from them, it's such a lottery for what turns up.
ReplyDeleteThanks! You are so right about Old Glory figures. Hit and miss is par for the course. Some of the 25mm ranges are superb. Others, not so much.
DeleteThose look great - love the flags!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Peter! Pete’s flags are the best.
DeleteMost of my painting can be described as not relishing the process but happy when it’s over.
ReplyDeleteA very impressive pike block. Sounds like it was something of a chore to produce but you got great results. 😀
I enjoy painting and relaxing activity. I prefer a smaller dose of figures at a time, though.
DeleteThanks for your comment,
Quite an achievement Jonathan, especially in 28mm. The sense of satisfaction at the end of it is well worth it though, as you say.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Lawrence,
DeleteWoooW! What a lovely soldiers unit!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like them, Michal!
DeleteGreat work!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
DeleteSuperb work Jonathan. I am really tempted by the Italian Wars.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Mark! Let temptation take you away!
DeleteThese are great Jonathan - and, the flags aside, they could pass muster as the pikemen for a few different nations that fought in the Italian Wars.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Oli! Even with army specific flags, these lads will likely see service in a number of my Italian Wars’ armies.
DeleteImpressive!
ReplyDeleteGlad you like the look of the block of pike, Mike!
DeleteAn absolutely fabulous looking unit !
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated, FoGH!
DeleteOutstanding work, I like how your colors turned out.
ReplyDeleteMuch appreciated! I forgot to let you look through The Lead Pile when you were here. I have some Old Glory figures more than I can use.
Delete