timurilank | 13 Mar 2015 10:49 a.m. PST |
I have been researching artwork displaying the Polish Winged Hussars and other cavalry of the period. I have noticed a number of representations showing Hussars without their wings. Question. When did the use of double wings go out of fashion? These are shown on the backs of hussars in the paintings depicting the Siege of Vienna – 1683, however, I find just as many paintings of other battles of the period without them. Cheers, Robert |
timurilank | 13 Mar 2015 11:56 a.m. PST |
BTW, I have checked the archive here and that produced no answers. Secondly, I have noted the variance in weapon preference when fighting particular enemies. I am not sure if this may have a bearing, but you never know. |
GildasFacit | 13 Mar 2015 12:40 p.m. PST |
There is a Polish website I found useful when I was painting some Poles for the GNW period. I had some discussions on it concerning different aspects of Hussaria. Problem is that I can't remember the name or addy of the damn site. I almost certainly found it via Google searching Hussar or some other spelling of same. |
timurilank | 13 Mar 2015 1:09 p.m. PST |
Hello Gildas, I may have encountered some of those websites this afternoon using a "back door" approach. Searching for reknown artist of Polish Winged Hussars, I did find useful Polish websites and blogs. None, however, that could give a definitive answer to the question when did use of wings disappear. I suspect after the 1670's (my era of interest) its use may have been at the commander's discretion. Keeping the body armour, the long lance was replaced by the shorter half-lance when fighting the Ottomans or Tartars. This was noted at one of the websites. After seeing so many depictions of armoured hussars without the wings, those paintings of the Vienna assault may have been an artist embellishment? I await further comment. Cheers, Robert |
Pan Marek | 13 Mar 2015 2:12 p.m. PST |
Folks- Early Hussars (16th into early 17th c.) did not have wings. Then single wings came into fashion. 2 wings was the latest and last use of them. They went out when Poland declined in the 18th century and they stopped using armor. Osprey has a title on Hussars. |
timurilank | 13 Mar 2015 2:36 p.m. PST |
Pan Marek, Thank you for the response. I can conclude then Polish Winged Hussars that fought during the Second (1672-1676)and Third (1683-1699)Ottoman Wars would have their double wings strapped to their armour? Are these depictions then of the early 18th century wars?
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Sobieski | 13 Mar 2015 7:25 p.m. PST |
I seem to recall reading that modern tests have shown two wings on the armour offered enough wind resistance to present a threat of pulling an hussar off his horse at anything beyond a trot. |
KTravlos | 14 Mar 2015 2:42 a.m. PST |
Timurilank be careful of those paintings. Are they paintings from the period you are looking at (17th-18th century), or later 19th century paintings about the period. If the second remember that it may present a picture of the past as those 19th century folk wanted to see it, not as it was. My own very personal, un-academic opinion is that the large wings were not used in battle in any of the periods. Small shield or saddle wings, sure. But the massive things we see in many pictures? Probably not. |
Daniel S | 14 Mar 2015 5:25 a.m. PST |
Those paintings are by Jozef Brandt and were all painted early in the 20th Century, two dated to 1905 for example. Like Juliusz Kossak who persuaded Brandt to become a painter rather than an engineer and Juliusz son, Wojciech Kossak, he painted heroic depictions of Polish struggles against foreign invasions and occupation at a time when Poland had been wiped of the map by the partitions of Poland. They are often both dynamic and inspirational works made with great skill but they are not detailed & accurate depictions of the events in question. A good example is W. Kossak's painting of Kircholm 1605 which includes both a historical armour as well as Swedish ships at full sail in the background(!). |