Unknown French Sword

Dmitry · 30th March 2023, 06:17 PM

On my recent visit to Madrid, I spied several very similar swords in a painting at the Prado.
It's the DEATH OF VIRIATUS by Jose de Madrazo, p.1807, a monumental-scale painting in the very popular then neoclassical style, influenced by the likes of David, Gros, Roques, etc.
The iconography is typical of the Greco-Roman hero worship pieces, and includes the implements of war, of which these swords are integral.
i thought that colleague Corrado26 may find this interesting. Even the scabbards are well-copied from the props the artists had available to him.

corrado26 · 31st March 2023, 11:35 AM

Many thanks for showing me this painting with the swords. It is really interesting and demonstrates for which purpose these swords perhaps have been made and have been in use.

Gavin Nugent · 31st March 2023, 11:48 AM

I'll be honest, I've no real confirmation about what this is or was or maybe, but under a personal feel lens I see this as having quite decent age to it.

What I struggle with is the scabbard fittings and the peening of the tang, I've come to expect better of the French makers of the day and feel this may be something else completely.

I looked through every page of Christian Aries work on the subject of swords and only a single entry was noted for the anything similar, a type already presented.

What I didn't know which was interesting, is the extra quillons seen on the Ecole de Mars sword was actually based on the Moroccan Nimcha/Saif... and that they made a model with the same hilt too... one I have never seen in the market...

An interesting thing to ponder over.

Gavin

kronckew · 1st April 2023, 05:38 PM

The Ecole Nimcha version looks a lot classier and more realistic than the 'official' botch job.

30th March 2023, 06:17 PM	#1
Dmitry Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Posts: 607	On my recent visit to Madrid, I spied several very similar swords in a painting at the Prado. It's the DEATH OF VIRIATUS by Jose de Madrazo, p.1807, a monumental-scale painting in the very popular then neoclassical style, influenced by the likes of David, Gros, Roques, etc. The iconography is typical of the Greco-Roman hero worship pieces, and includes the implements of war, of which these swords are integral. i thought that colleague Corrado26 may find this interesting. Even the scabbards are well-copied from the props the artists had available to him. Attached Images

31st March 2023, 11:48 AM	#3
Gavin Nugent Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 2,818	I'll be honest, I've no real confirmation about what this is or was or maybe, but under a personal feel lens I see this as having quite decent age to it. What I struggle with is the scabbard fittings and the peening of the tang, I've come to expect better of the French makers of the day and feel this may be something else completely. I looked through every page of Christian Aries work on the subject of swords and only a single entry was noted for the anything similar, a type already presented. What I didn't know which was interesting, is the extra quillons seen on the Ecole de Mars sword was actually based on the Moroccan Nimcha/Saif... and that they made a model with the same hilt too... one I have never seen in the market... An interesting thing to ponder over. Gavin Attached Images

1st April 2023, 05:38 PM	#4
kronckew Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Room 101, Glos. UK Posts: 4,152	The Ecole Nimcha version looks a lot classier and more realistic than the 'official' botch job. Attached Images

31st March 2023, 11:35 AM	#2
corrado26 Member Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Black Forest, Germany Posts: 1,171	Many thanks for showing me this painting with the swords. It is really interesting and demonstrates for which purpose these swords perhaps have been made and have been in use.