So far this year I have painted a grand total of one Hinton Hunt figure which is something of a record I think. The figure is FN/307 Mameluk of the Guard on horse FNH/4. I only recently acquired this figure and have no intention of doing a full unit so I have painted him to represent Napoleon's faithful servant Mameluk Ali.
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| FN/307 Mameluk of the Guard |
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| The horse is FNH/4 which is quite a rarity as it was made for the Mameluk figure only and features a high back to the saddle and some fancy horse furniture. |
Ali was not actually a Mameluk at all but a French stableman Louis-Etienne Saint-Denis who Napoleon had promoted to valet and ordered to wear a Mameluk's dress. These days that would probably be considered cultural appropriation but in early nineteenth century France it was clearly perfectly acceptable.
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| Ali and his boss. |
As I explained in my previous post, Hinton production has slowed due to my efforts to complete an old 15mm ACW project which (drum roll) I have now done. To celebrate, I forced Goya to don Confederate uniform once again for another Fire & Fury game.
A full battle report of the game has been posted over on my ACW blog (click here).
"Ali" is gorgeous in the most manly way possible. As are the ACW troops in the bottom photograph. You have a real style in the way you approach painting. I could gaze at (and examine) it closely all day.
ReplyDeleteKind Painterly Regards,
Stokes
Thanks Stokes!
DeleteIt may only be one figure, but what a beauty. I also hope to paint one up as Ali sometime soon so I'll probably copy your colour scheme. Off now to see what's what in the ACW.
ReplyDeleteThanks Rob, I used a picture of a regular Mameluk in my Funken as I couldn’t find a decent colour image of Ali.
DeleteThe first was named Roustan Raza. Kidnapped at a very young age in Georgia, he was given to General Bonaparte along with the horse he was riding. Laden with possessions and riches, he abandoned the Emperor before his exile on the Island of Elba. During the Hundred Days, he was replaced by Saint-Denis, who was thereafter called Ali. He would later accompany him to Saint Helena. He is, moreover, mentioned in the Emperor's last will.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.napoleon.org/histoire-des-2-empires/biographies/roustam-1782-1845-mamelouk-de-napoleon/
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis-%C3%89tienne_Saint-Denis
Thanks for that.
DeleteLovely work there. The old Hinton Hunts have a gem like delicacy to them.
ReplyDeleteThey do indeed!
DeleteA splendid paint job. The horse furniture is a gem.
ReplyDeleteStephen
Thanks Steven he was fun (but fiddly) to paint.
DeleteLovely job again Ian. I suspect we will be seeing him whenever Napoleon appears on your table? I came to appreciate the Mamelukes very late in my collecting but they are a great addition. I too used Funcken as my source. I had forgotten the background story ....thanks for that.
ReplyDeleteI think you're right that we will be seeing him at Napoleon's side in future although la Bedoyere may get jealous!
DeleteCracking stuff Ian…
ReplyDeleteBeautifully painted…
All the best. Aly
Cheers Aly!
DeleteHe's beautiful Ian - a very fine addition. I had never realised that Ali was a fake - probably should have, mind you. It's impressive that the Emperor went to such trouble to set this up. I'm thinking seriously that maybe I might try dressing up as a Mameluk for a while - can't do any harm, surely. I'll have to keep the horse downstairs, probably.
ReplyDeleteThanks Tony, and yes keep the horse downstairs…
DeleteWhat a splendid figure and I had no idea of the background story of valet etc. I have done similar and put Napoleon and Ali on the same base.
ReplyDeleteThanks Norm, it was actually seeing him on your blog that gave me the inspiration!
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