"Saxon Leib Guard - Black Hussar 28mm" Topic

One of my favourite Napoleonic units! More pics at link.
link

Very Very Nice!!

nice painting – they had initially a hard time in the 1813 campaign, when due to being unfit were a laugh for the line

What a colourful unit.

Marvellous. Never seen this lot before. They were elevated to Old Guard status? Now that is a surprise.

I noted your comment about the bearskins being black but could be dark brown also. I am convinced that many a Grenadier or Chasseur of the Guard, whether a Pied or a Cheval could be seen with the same variety. Melanin is not black and only with the densest melanosome concentrations does an Equatorial skin turn truly black…… New Guinea and Micronesia maybe. Same with bears and horses. I always dry brush black fur with Vallejo Black/Brown

Thanks all!

Yes the Old Guard Status was quite a political move by Napoleon to shore up alliances in the shakey 1813 environs Liam! Ordered to be paid at second rate for the guard (and by the King of Saxony of course).

That's interesting re colour, I expect you're right, though brown has always looked a bit shabby for bearskins in comparison to black to my mind. That info might change that impression. Apparently these were also goatskin rather than bearskin, Kawe (the guy who researched and commissioned them when they were under the Wesfalia brand) has advised.

Very nice work!!