Keith Rocco Paintings

Keith Rocco, IMHO, is the preeminent Napoleonic artist working today.  I was lucky enough to work with Keith on my board game Napoleon in Europe back in 2001.  I licensed one of his paintings for the cover, and his sketches for the manual.

As e talked, we discovered that other than our love of history, we had a couple of things in common:
* We had both lived in the western suburbs of Chicago (Keith moved to Virginia many years ago, but still comes back here from time to time).
* We had a common friend: Paul Niemeyer. Paul did the map and card art for Napoleon in Europe, as well as most art for Eagle Games.

Over the years I've collected several of Keith's prints, three of which hang in my office. I have always wanted to own an original, and so almost a year ago I approached Keith about doing two small paintings of Napoleonic soldiers.

He finished my paintings today and sent me photographs.

Well, to say that I love them is an understatement!  They are perfect.

 French Dragoon

French Chasseur


I feel very lucky to have these in my collection and will enjoy them for many, many years.

Polish Voltigeurs Paint Tweak

Before:

Something about the pale yellow on their Czapskas just wasn't sitting right with me. I wasn't fond of the color to begin with and to have the top edging, the plume, the cords, and the cross on the top all in the same color didn't look right. So... I re-painted them.

After:

I like this yellow for the top edge and plume much better.
The top cross in black looks more accurate and less busy.
The cords in green also keeps the whole composition from being too busy and let's the eye appreciate the contrasts better IMHO.
The yellow in the 'after' picture is actually a bit more deep in real life (almost like a school bus) than is shown in this picture.

Before, the cross on the top of the Czapska was canary yellow.  Just too busy.  I like the simpler look better.

Ready for combat!

Napoleonic Allies Project

I am currently building out my Napoleonic armies to one day be able to fight the entire Napoleonic Wars using an updated version of my game Napoleon in Europe (let's call it '2') for the strategic side and my Napoleonic Command & Colors rules for the Tactical Battles.  In the shorter run, I want to be able to play the following campaigns: 1806, 1807, 1812, 1813.

To that end Scott MacPhee is painting up my Russian army, and I have contracted Artmaster Studio in the UK to paint up a selection of French Allies.  The first few units have arrived, and I based them up ready for gaming.

Two units of Bavarian Infantry (Front Rank).  A third is in the works.

A unit of Wurtemberg Infantry (Front Rank).  A second is in the works.

A unit of Wutemberg Chevau-Leger (Front Rank).  These were painted by Fernando Painting Service in Sri Lanka.

Two units of Westphalian Infantry (Elite Miniatures). I'm thinking about adding another couple of units, but using Paul Hicks' new Saxon scuplts. I know there are a few differences in uniform and kit, but I think the differences are minor, and the sculpts are really, really nice.

A unit of Italian Guards (Front Rank).

A unit of Italian Grenadier Infantry (Front Rank).

A unit of Fusilier Infantry from the Grand Duchy of Warsaw (Paul Hicks sculpts painted by Roger Murrow).

A unit of Grenadier Infantry from the Grand Duchy of Warsaw (Paul Hicks sculpts painted by Roger Murrow).

A unit of Voltigeur Infantry from the Grand Duchy of Warsaw (Paul Hicks sculpts painted by Roger Murrow).

A unit of Imperial Guard Lancers...just because (Perry Miniatures/ Artmaster Studios). I may use them for Polish Uhlans in a pinch.

I have the following uits still planned:

Polish (GDW):
1 Infantry
1 Hussar
1 Uhlan
1 Artillery

Saxon:
3 Infantry
1 Zastrow Cuirassier
1 Lieb Guard

Italian:
2 Infantry
1 Queen's Dragoons
1 Artillery

Bavarian:
1 Infantry
1 Chevau-Leger
1 Artillery

Westphalian:
2 Infantry
1 Chevau-Leger

Baden-Wurtemberg:
1 Infantry
1 Dragoon
1 Artillery

I'll use French Hussars and Dragoons as needed for allies as the differences are slight.

Can't wait to get Borodino, or Friedland, or Bautzen, or Lutzen, or Eylau on the table.