| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - October 26 2007 : 01:33:27 AM
As background, Billy Heck is the head interpreter at Martin's Station. His wife, Tuesday Heck, had a stroke and the folks there are having an auction for her benefit, along with a dinner. They posted a link to the auction site which has some items done by various artists. One is a painting titled "The Huron" by David Wright. Does it look like anyone we know?
http://historic1.2kweb.net/tuesday/index.php?action=view&gll=1
And the one with the canoe and an island behind it sort of reminds me of the island in Lake James just behind the boat landing (for those of you who have had the Eric Hurley tour).
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| 16 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - November 05 2007 : 12:11:15 AM
It's the old thing of doing something they trying to think up an explanation of why it is correct. Done all the time by reenactors to explain why some questionable thing they have is really appropriate to their persona. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - November 04 2007 : 6:13:58 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Fitzhugh Williams
Sounds like the artist is doing a little "tap dance" around the facts.
Why do you say that, Fitz? I thought her explanations sounded reasonable. But I don't know for sure. |
| Hawkeye_Joe |
Posted - November 04 2007 : 4:16:27 PM
Yes, here is my reply to her e-mail:
quote:
Jaime,
First off let me thank you for taking my comments in the spirit that they were intended. Some artists can get a little touchy on the subject. To know history is to study it and by studying it learn. 18th Cent military doctrine was to fire quickly and in volleys. This was achieved by specific commands that were drilled, sometimes beaten, into the soldiers. The 18th Cent. soldier did not aim his musket, that is why they thought that actually shooting at an individual was tantamount to murder, he was taught to level then fire on command, many references to them firing over or under their intended target are found.
I do know that the WWII GI who was transferred to another unit should and sometimes did place the patches in the manner you state, usually this was done on the class "A" dress uniform, but I doubt that this was done at the Bulge. Most units were advised to remove shoulder patches at this time not to add them. I do understand your wanting to honor a specific unit in the painting though and applaud your quest to honor all fighting men.
Again, thank you for the opportunity to speak with you and to put forth my comments.
Joe
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| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - November 04 2007 : 3:13:22 PM
Sounds like the artist is doing a little "tap dance" around the facts. |
| Hawkeye_Joe |
Posted - November 04 2007 : 10:16:32 AM
Here is the reply I got from the artist:
quote:
Hi Joe,
Thank you for your comments. A Drummer's Fear is a painting of the battle on the Plains of Abraham outside of Quebec. The French in the firing line are firing up hill slightly to engage the British who are elevated from where the French are firing from. It is not possible to tell exactly how high the muskets would have been elevated, of course, but the British were at a higher elevation than their French opponents. There is a gentle slope to the battle field. While parts of the battlefield are fairly level other parts are, of course, not. I wanted to convey the idea of this in the elevated positions of their guns. It was an intentional decision. Having been to many reenactments myself, I am well aware that reenactors elevate their guns for safety reasons.
The patch on the 101st airborne is indeed on the non-standard shoulder. However, it is my understanding that wearing an insignia on the right arm is indicative of service with another unit. (He wears his "regular" unit patch on the left shoulder, and the 101st on the right). It was a mistake on my part, but is still not out of the realm of possibility. My intent was to honor the 101st, and given both the popularity of that print (it is one of my most popular) and the response from multiple veterans of WWII, I think I have achieved that goal. At my last show, a veteran of the 101st who was at the Bulge spoke with me about how he was there and how honored he felt that I had done that painting.
Again, I appreciate your comments.
Jaime
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| Hawkeye_Joe |
Posted - November 02 2007 : 7:30:46 PM
Yes, it would, you can find even period photos that have been flipped that way. I wrote her an e-mail explaining the inaccuracies. I'll let the board know her response. As I told her, the customer for these kinds of painting are usually historically educated people and these inaccuracies could curtail the sales to her target market. Especially at those prices. |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - November 02 2007 : 1:37:35 PM
Ms. Cooper is a very young woman (probably in her late 20s) who is just beginning her artistic career. She paints from photographs that are taken at re-enactments, which would explain why she painted the French soldiers with their muskets aimed higher. You are probably correct, Joe, that she doesn't realize the difference.
As for the WWII guy... if she had, for whatever reason, flipped or reversed the photo... wouldn't that make the patch appear on the wrong sleeve? |
| Hawkeye_Joe |
Posted - November 02 2007 : 11:56:21 AM
More than likely Fitz the artist has never read anything that would show them that the opposing sides actually tried to shoot each other with a leveled musket. Probably used a photograph of a French line of battle at a reenactment to make the painting. If you look at the painting of the WWII 101st AB trooper, you might not know this either, but the Screaming Eagle patch should be sewed on the left arm not the right, not sure how the artist screwed that up. The thing is that the artist is chargeing $4500.00 for the French line painting and $3500.00 for the 101st Trooper. With that much at stake I'd think that she would have researched enough to get it right. |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - November 02 2007 : 10:14:12 AM
Yeah, I thought that looked a little like "duck hunting", but I figured the artist must have had a good reason for painting it that way. Maybe he didn't. |
| Hawkeye_Joe |
Posted - November 02 2007 : 08:03:18 AM
I would say that the artist is an artist and not a historian. Look at the one entitled "A Drummer's Fear". The muskets are all raised at an angle as reenactors do, (for safety reasons) not leveled as real 18th Cent. French soldiers would have done. |
| Obediah |
Posted - October 26 2007 : 2:31:03 PM
Yeah, that lake does look kinda familiar, but where's the Red October? |
| Light of the Moon |
Posted - October 26 2007 : 1:29:14 PM
I loved those paintings! Especially the one with Wes! Oh, what I wouldn't give to own them! |
| Fitzhugh Williams |
Posted - October 26 2007 : 11:21:09 AM
J. A. Cooper? Any kin to J. F. Cooper? 
That does resemble someone I once met. |
| Gadget Girl |
Posted - October 26 2007 : 11:17:51 AM
WOW!!!!! |
| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - October 26 2007 : 09:01:34 AM
Pardon me for highjacking your thread, Fitz, but I would like to post a link to the website of a new, upcoming young artist we recently discovered. She lives in Ligonier, PA and has begun displaying her work at shows in that area, where some of us have encountered her.
She drew our attention immediately because of one very special painting she has done. Go here, J.A. Cooper and take a look at her work. Those of you who have met him will immediately recognize a certain officer in a green Regimental.
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| Wilderness Woman |
Posted - October 26 2007 : 08:55:45 AM
I saw Mr. Wright's painting of Wes in person at History Meets The Arts in Gettysburg this past April. It is even more amazing in person! Beautiful.
I asked if Wes had posed specifically for the painting (or the photograph from which it was taken) and was told that he had, and most graciously. |
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