Uniform Parade

Over at the Duchy of Tradgardland blog the pleasure of well illustrated uniform books was raised.

So, I thought I would put some of my favourite uniform books on parade.

Before I do that, I am parading a book that many wargamers will not be familiar with. I picked it up in a shop clearance in Exeter. A book on costumes might seem irrelevant to wargamers: Army uniforms were designed to meet the needs of warfare. That is true, also true is that civilian fashion will have driven those aspects which were not entirely driven by the practice of warfare.

For my latest project – the Wars of the Italian Unification – I can say that civilian costumes for men seem fairly static from 1800 to about 1880, loose trousers and frock coats abound, even tailcoats are still in evidence. Prior to 1800 the combination of tricorne, short waistcoat, knee breeches and stockings spanned roughly 1750 to 1800.

I noticed that if anything military uniform seems conservative with mid 19^th century Kingdoms like “The Two Sicily’s” still equipping some troops in what looks like 50-year styles, without tricornes though.

So, looking at the civilian costumes makes me feel more relaxed about what soldiers would be wearing and when during those 1800’s. When you add in regulations being only periodic and often reliant on funding and supply you can make the case for some latitude in what a unit was wearing.

On the other hand, Wargamers love military uniform books and probably cannot survive without the certainty of that presentation. That assumes the uniform you want is the one shown!

Onto the book parade

First up are “ageing nicely” my four Funckens, Ancient Egypt to the 18^th century; 18^th century to the present day plus the Napoleonic Wars Parts 1 & 2. I have had these 40+ years.

I really like these books because the artwork is literally that. Paintings where the brushstroke give an enduring roughness to the figures and horses. These books ideas are most transferable to wargames figures in my view.

Next up are two smaller A5 sized books from Denmark – authors Niels Saxtorph (illustrated by Stig Bramsen) and Preben Kannik having their work translated into English and published by Blandford. These are more sharply defined figures with crisp artwork. Yet the style is still visibly “pre-digital”.

Rounding off the “old style” are the three volume Funckens – “the Age of Chivalry Parts 1,2 and 3. Fantastic is an understatement.

Modern day wargamers might say – no need for this book lark as I get all my images online. Well, I guess that is so, although many will be photos of publications including those I have mentioned and possibly not attributed.

More to the point is the issue of OSPREY publications – the elephant in the room. For sheer volume there is no competition. Osprey have delivered the hobby an immense range of work for decades. Most of it as good as the Funckens or Blandford’s or superior and often backed by better research which is to be expected.

And yet despite the illustrations becoming ever more “accurate” digitally there seems to me something lost.

I can best illustrate this with my final offering.

4 Ospreys from their “men at arms” series Nos. 323, 329, 512 and 520.

The Austrian Army 1836-1866 parts 1 & 2. Both written and illustrated by Darko Pavlovic they are an excellent read and the colour plates well chosen and detailed. Yet there is something cold about them.

And this is illustrated by the Armies of the Italian Wars of Unification 1848-1870 parts 1&2. Written by Gabriele Esposito and illustrated by Giuseppe Rava the illustrations are richer and warmer. They hark back to the pre digital Funckens in a way that perhaps Darko Pavlovic’s Austrians pay homage the work of Preben Kannik instead.

So, in this digital era I still think there is a place in uniform illustration for roughness, approximation and a level of abstraction – which is what wargames really are about.

And I really do enjoy opening a book and turning a page – no amount of digital paraphernalia currently does the same thing.

As Leo Tolstoy wrote “if you look for perfection, you’ll never be content”.