Roman Auxillery Cavalry artwork

[smithart101]

Here is my interpretation of a Roman Cavalryman. Your thoughts are welcome!
I have based it on a combination of references- a Brian Connoly artwork and an Osprey book on the Roman Auxillery Cavalry.
thanks
Simon

[jvrjenivs]

great images. Laudes and many thanks for sharing.

[D B Campbell]

... a Brian Connoly artwork ...

Gone but not forgotten. :wink:

[smithart101]

Ah yes, the brilliant Sweet. Wish I'd kept the Band poster he signed for me when I was a kid Happy days!

[MeinPanzer]

That is truly fantastic! Really a beautiful piece of work.

[jho]

Absolutely beautiful.

In terms of historical accuracy, the belt appears to run over the sword scabbard which, as far as I know, is not attested as a means of fixing the sword. Also, the rear pommels of the saddle should probably be upright and not diagonal as the forward pommels. Finally, you may want to add a metal reinforcement to the spear butt. The helmet is apparently not based on any particular specimen but on reliefs and fragments, which is fine, if you want to model it after a complete helmet, you may want to take a look at the helmet data base. All of these are minor points and in no way affect the beauty of your rendering.

[NightHunter24]

Fascinating work there Simon!

Regards,

[smithart101]

thanks to you all for the kind comments!
Jens, I ammended as you suggested and also added some of those leather laces often seen on these saddles. Are they for tying on baggage?
The sword is suspended on a leather baldric across his chest, but stuck under the belt to stop it flapping about at the gallop.
regards
Simon

[Peroni]

I love it!

The perceived movement and musculature of the horse is outstanding. Great attention to detail.
Is it worked from a photograph or entirely original?

[Crispvs]

Outstanding, as others have already said.

Just to add though, saddles have been revised somewhat in the last few years and according to the evidence of the two near complete saddle leathers from Carlisle, there should probably be a large trapezial flap of leather attached to the edge of the existing saddle. The flaps on the Carlisle saddles were stitched edge to edge to the main saddle leather and widened a little towards their lower edges, which had been cut into a fringe along each lower edge. The flaps would have gone down to about the level of the rider's knee and were probably there to prevent chafing.

Crispvs

[Albert G Lopez]

Excellent work! What type of medium did you use?

[tDub248]

wow man! That's flawless! Very, very nice!!!!

[Aulus Perrinius]

Very nice! Laudes.

Although I think that the sword should be a little longer

[Ron Andrea]

Great picture, though I read somewhere that they knotted the horse's tail to keep someone from grabbing it. :?

Of course, I wouldn't grab a war horse's tail, thereby positioning myself for a magnificent kick in the chops. :wink:

[Robert]

Brilliant artwork! Laudes!

Question: The shield seems to be floating in space. Dear all, any thoughts on how this was secured to the rider to prevent it flopping all over the place and still allow him sufficient movement in the left hand to control the horse? That has been puzzling me for some while ....