Tuesday 30 May 2017

Marshal Poniatowski - 28mm Murawski

Marshal Poniatowski and staff. Figures once again from Murawski Miniatures. A worthy sculpt of the great Marshal I think! These are from the larger command pack that comes with 7 figures total.







Poniatwoski was made a Marshal of France after commanding the right wing at the Battle of Leipzig in 1813.  As the French were forced to retreat he commanded the French rearguard, being trapped in the city of Leipzig after the bridge was prematurely destroyed. He refused to surrender despite the overwhelming odds arrayed against his forces. He had been wounded by a lance several days earlier, and shot twice in the fighting at Leipzig - once in the arm and once in the side. Despite his wounds, he rode his horse into the Elster River to escape. However, the current was too strong given his weakened state and he was swept away and drowned - or as other accounts suggest he may have been shot for a third time as he entered the river. The event has been a popular subject for paintings and engravings like the following.


Napoleon described Poniatowksi as "brimming with honor and bravery" and that "He was a real king, had all the necessary traits of character. Had nobleness of a chief, magnificence, humanity, the same in seriousness and in play, soul"


A good account of Poniatowski's dramatic life can be found here


Thanks for looking! That's the last of the Poles I have planned for the moment bar a few more staff, and possibly cavalry. I'll add some group photos of all my Poles together when I have a moment!

16 comments:

  1. Another beautiful job! Congratulations Mark!

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  2. Mark you're catching up on my totals 😡😡😡😡😡
    That's not allowed .. I think you have an family of Octupuses painting at home for you 😃
    Seriously again and again great and amazing work I can't wait to see all the forces ontable in battle. Any battles planned????
    Peter

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    1. A family of octopusses!! Ha I wish that was the case, thanks Peter. Do you have a blog, I can't seem to find it??

      And yes some battles planned, likely a smaller one on 18th June at this stage to try out the new GDA rules.

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  3. Excellent command group Mark!

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  4. How wonderful Mark. Every time I visit your blog I become even more embarrassed by my large box of castings that remain "sans painte"!
    Your work on these excellent figures is wonderful.

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    1. Hi and thanks Carlo, hope it provides some inspiration!

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  5. Lovely finish on these excellent figures.
    Best Iain

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  6. Great looking Command group, Mark!

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