Templar Battle Line By dashinvaine Watch

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Oil on board. Quite big, c. 90 x 60 cm.



The Templars participated in several expeditions to Egypt, being active in the Fifth and Seventh Crusades, both of which started well, with the capture of the city of Damietta, at the mouth of the Nile, and the least said about how they ended the better. The setting gave me a chance to indulge my two great interests, the medieval crusades and ancient Egyptians, since I could envisage the knights defending a position during a skirmish amid some ruins. I included some ancient soldiers among the carvings to suggest the relentless nature of history, through which many armies have battled their way.



Private commission for a gentleman named Chris Redpath, in Leicester, who is also a fan of the Templars. Thanks to him for getting me back to the easel, and giving me an opportunity to do some more Templar stuff, too.



Incidentally I'm not sure medieval knights ever prayed using their drawn swords as crosses, pointed down. There are lots of modern depictions of this but no contemporary ones, it seems, and in hindsight I think they probably would not have done this. It would damage the blade, for one things.

IMAGE DETAILS Image size 3948x2972px 6.25 MB Make Panasonic Model DMC-TZ20 Shutter Speed 10/1250 second Aperture F/3.3 Focal Length 4 mm ISO Speed 100 Date Taken Feb 26, 2015 2:37:02 PM +00:00 Show More

Published : Mar 6, 2015