Dan Morton Posted 2 December , 2007 Share Posted 2 December , 2007 Background - this is a little homage to my favorite WWI illustrator, Fortunio Matania, and his best known work by the same title. It's a British artilleryman and a horse. I like to think maybe he's a pre-war professional soldier, who has known this horse since it came to the battery. He's cleaned him, curried him, fed and watered, sneaked apples and carrots from the mess for him. And now the horse has been wounded or maybe broken a leg or....and must be left. So two comrades are saying goodbye... The scale is my usual 1/16th. The horse is from an out of production Verlinden kit, modified to fit the pose, etc. The head of the artilleryman is from the Lost Battalion, hands and one boot from Jaguar, one boot from Model Cellar. The ruined French cooking pot on the ground is from Model Cellar. The rest you can blame on me. The harness is all putty except one piece of lead strip connecting the harness on the ground and that lying in the crook of the artilleryman's arm. The ground is a mix of some resin, some Sculpey and is mostly covered with pumice paste. The yellow stuff you see under one boot and at one shoulder, is phototack. To enable the painter to paint the figure, I had to make one arm separately. In the crouching pose, with one hand on either side of the horse's neck there was no other choice. Even then it is not exactly easy to get the artilleryman into and out of position. These photos were taken in some gauzy afternoon winter sun and they aren't the best. I also see I need to buy a new blue poster board backdrop!! !! Comments and critique - as always - most welcome! Back soon with more photos. All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 2 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 2 December , 2007 More photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bantamforgot Posted 2 December , 2007 Share Posted 2 December , 2007 Excellent, brings my uncle to mind in the RFA, the only time I remember him having a tear in his eye when he mentioned the horses. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 2 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 2 December , 2007 Colin - Glad you liked it! All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ozzie Posted 2 December , 2007 Share Posted 2 December , 2007 Excellent Dan. Kim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 3 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 3 December , 2007 Thank you Kim! And thanks for your encouragement! All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armourersergeant Posted 3 December , 2007 Share Posted 3 December , 2007 I have always liked that picture. You have done it proud. regards Arm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 3 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 3 December , 2007 Many thanks Arm!! All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Upton Posted 3 December , 2007 Share Posted 3 December , 2007 Just a small point, but shouldn't he have "butterflies" on his spurs (the leather piece designed to protect the lacing on the boots)? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 3 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 3 December , 2007 Andrew - I have some photos of artillerymen wearing the "butterflies" and some without - as in the figure. My source is the recent Schiffer book on British uniforms - which is outstanding, by the way. All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
michaeldr Posted 3 December , 2007 Share Posted 3 December , 2007 Great work Dan, brings tears to the eyes regards Michael Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevew Posted 3 December , 2007 Share Posted 3 December , 2007 Dan, As Michael says great work and really moving Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 4 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 4 December , 2007 Michael & Steve - Thank you for your most kind comments. I've been getting some e-mail comments off site also and you all really make me feel, well...deeply honored. Thank you. All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pat Holscher Posted 4 December , 2007 Share Posted 4 December , 2007 Very nice Dan! Dan has graciously allowed us to also post his photos on the TMH forum. For those who might be interested in the campanion thread, it is posted here: http://www.militaryhorse.org/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=8045 We actually have a couple of threads up on this illustration. I'd really like to find a poster variant of the one that was used as a poster during the war, which appears on our companion thread, and which Dan has posted above. I'd also like to find a source for the same artist's work, "The Last Absolution of the Munsters", if anyone knows where one may be found. Again, nice work Dan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eyes Posted 4 December , 2007 Share Posted 4 December , 2007 Excellent, brings my uncle to mind in the RFA, the only time I remember him having a tear in his eye when he mentioned the horses. Colin Colin My Granddad too was with the RFA (267 and 245 Bde's) and felt the same. The suffering of the uncomprehending horses. Terrific piece of art this. Very sad as well. Well done Dan. All the best Colin. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 4 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 4 December , 2007 Pat and Colin - Many thanks friends! If you haven't taken a look at Pat Holscher's Society of the Military Horse web site, check it out. A wealth of information and some very nice folks! http://www.militaryhorse.org/ HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE! All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Diane Alden Posted 4 December , 2007 Share Posted 4 December , 2007 Dan, This is stunning and so moving. As a horse owner what the soldier is doing is the least we can do to comfort injured, frightened and dying horses who have no idea what is happening to them. You have captured the atmosphere of the scene perfectly. I cannot think that anybody will not be moved to tears by it. Diane Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 4 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 4 December , 2007 Many thanks, Diane! I appreciate your kind comments! HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS! All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willy Posted 4 December , 2007 Share Posted 4 December , 2007 Your work is simply stunning Dan, thankyou for sharing it with us. Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 4 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 4 December , 2007 Many thanks Willy! You are most kind! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
susanhemmings Posted 4 December , 2007 Share Posted 4 December , 2007 Dan, this is wonderful work - i know i keep saying it, but it really is very moving. Well done, Susan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 4 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 4 December , 2007 Thank you, Susan! Very appreciated no matter how times you've said it! HAPPY HOLIDAYS! Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan Morton Posted 5 December , 2007 Author Share Posted 5 December , 2007 I'm considering re-doing this "one-off" as a commercial piece for model casting in 1/16th scale. That makes the horse about 5 inches long down its' back and the artilleryman more or less 4 inches tall. Would it be of interest? All the best, Dan Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bantamforgot Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Me for one Dan but don't leave it too long , time passes. Colin Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gunner Bailey Posted 5 December , 2007 Share Posted 5 December , 2007 Dan Very well done. Fine modelling skills. It captures the emotion very well. My grandfather was in the RFA and his testimonial on discharge in 1919 included 'Very good with horses'. I'm sure it would have brought a tear to his eyes. Gunner Bailey Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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