"Light blue of the 2eme French Hussards, Napoleonic Wars." Topic

Lucine Rousselot did a plate on the 12 French hussars units in schematic form, 1804-1812. In the text, all units with sky blue complements are referred to as just that = Sky Blue.

Yet the color of the breeches and shabraque (lambswool) sawtooth edging of the 2eme are shown distinctly lighter than the sky blue of all the others. I would call it a "powder blue." In the 1960's I painted a "squadron" of the 2eme (6 figures – 1 low rank officer and 5 troopers) using this lighter blue. It has faded to almost gray/white, and I want to repaint them, and add two figures – a trumpeter and another trooper.

Do any of our French members have information as to whether the light blue of the 2eme was different from, lighter than, the sky blue of the 1ere; 5eme; 9eme or 10eme hussars?

GdeP

Ah, another one of those 'which 200 year old piece of cloth is more accurate' threads

I like these.

I have always taken sky blue to be just that – the color of the sky. In daytime. Very light blue.

Others claim that the material was actually much darker than that, and some uniform plates show it as a medium blue. I'm no expert on fading dyes and 200-year-old cloth. Stick with the sky blue, I'd say.

From French authors André Jouineau and Jean-Marie Mongin, Officers and Soldiers: The French Hussars 1786-1815, Vol. 2 1804-1815, From the 1st to the 8th Regiment, (ISBN 2-915239-54-1); and in the sames series, Vol. 3 1804-1815, From the 9th to the 14th Regiment, (ISBN 978-2-35250-037-7), the answer is no difference from 5th, 9th, or 10th Regiments, and certainly not as dark as the blue of the 1st Hussars. Jouineau compares and contrasts dozens of sources from Rousselot through to Elting and the Funckens, and more, using light analysis and RGB techniques. Jouineau's computer-graphics based illustrations of the 'wolf's teeth' edging, breeches, and shabraque of the 2nd Hussars shows the same light blue (virtually a light 'Royal Blue') the same as the 5th, 9th, & 10th regiments.

To be honest, analysing the work of artists to get a colour for a particular uniform is a rather pointless activity as they are all secondary (at best) sources; even worse, they are ones where the colour used was open to personal interpretation and limited by what was available or could be mixed.

Be like the artists; interpret it as you see fit!

Colin

Colin, the man is asking for some 'external validation' of paint colour choices for his toy soldiers. No one is purporting to provide 'absolute truth' here, just a point of reference, and assurance. Saying it's all just down to subjective "personal interpretation" gives GdP no crumb of comfort at all. You're heartless!

I know I am; I am also realistic. None of us know exactly what the colour was so we all have to interpret it as we choose. Personally, I would go for a medium sky blue.

Wow, I seem to have stirred up a hornet's nest!

I use Humbrol's "German light blue" for what will be the 1st and 5th French hussars (doing 6 to 8 each in the Shako Rouleau of the end of the Empire) because I like the somewhat grayish aspect to it, and to a darker sky blue. I find it difficult to conceive of really strong colors for the period. I also like this blue for Prussian dragoon coats of the 7YW in 15mm.

I like the "powder blue" shown by Rousselot, as – to my eye – it shows a stronger contrast to the dark brown of the dolman and pelisse. It also seems appropriate for one of the oldest French hussar regiments.

I have no problem with adding touches that probably did not exist at the time. I did Lancers of Berg in Spain with the French 1809 style shako, in amaranth with white top and bottom bands, but also with cords and raquettes on the side, which I have never seen illustrated. The shako I have seen illustrated seems much taller than the one common in 1809.

I appreciate all your opinions. That's one of the reasons I enjoy this hobby so much!

GdeP

No 'hornet's nest'. Obviously you didn't actually want the information originally requested, but a discussion 'audience'. You've clearly made up your mind already.

In the color plates in Petard-Rigo, the 2nd are listed as Bleu Céleste and the blues of the other hussars are listed as Bleu ciel. The céleste is depicted as lighter darker than the ciel.

FWIW.

régiment de Lanzun (futur 5e hussards), vers 1782
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régiment de Berechney (futur 1er hussards), vers 1782
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le capitaine Vallin du 2e hussards, vers 1794
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5e hussards vers 1795, selon Vernet-Lami
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2e hussard et hussard volontaire, vers 1800, "Augsburger" Serie
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hussard volontaire, vers 1800, selon Vernet-Lami
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coleurs distinctives des hussards, selon Vernet-Lami
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2e hussards, comme montré par leur colonel Jean-François-Thérèse Barbier, vers 1806
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doman et gilet du capitaine Epinat du 5e hussards
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pelisse de hussard du 1er régiment
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(de gauche à droit) 1er, 7e et 2e hussards, vers 1807, Suhr
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le sous-lieutenant Albert-Jean-Michel (dit "John") de Rocca du 2e hussards, vers 1811
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5e hussards vers 1812, Goddard-Booth
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2e hussards vers 1812, Goddard-Booth
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5e hussards, selon le réglement dit "de Bardin", vers 1812
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2e hussards, selon le réglement dit "de Bardin", vers 1812
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1er hussards, selon le réglement dit "de Bardin", vers 1812
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"The céleste is depicted as lighter darker than the ciel."

That should be as slightly darker.

I can't say I understand that "the celeste is…lighter darker than the ciel." I should be one or the other: lighter than ciel; or darker than ciel.

The pictures linked above offer a mass of choice! I have long toyed with showing "evolution with a specific unit. Doing six troopers, do one "after" augsburger; one after Goddard-booth, etc.

Printing and saving the options. My thanks!

GdeP