http://images.bookbyte.com/isbn.aspx?isbn=9780828320177
This is the cover of a very interesting book dealing with the actual journey of a franciscan friar to the great khan in karakorum.
The book is well worth reading, but i was wondering about the drawing on the cover, depicting a central asian soldier caring a composite bow, a saber and a rifle.
Does anyone knows who the painter is, or can guess the soldier`s origin?
Thanks
Noam[/img]
book cover drawing
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bekN
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Bede
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- Location: Sydney, Australia
The original is a photograph from the 19th century. It is often described as someone from one of the Mongol banners. It has been slightly retouched around the tassel on the ring on the bow case.
Technically it is a good picture of 17th-18th century equipment used by Manchu cavalrymen well into the 19th century. The gun is a long barrelled matchlock. The sword is usually worn with the hilt facing to the back so it does not interfere with the bow case and bow.
The photograph has been used extensively for illustrations of books about the Mongols. It is often mislabelled. Somewhere I found details of the original photograph, but off hand I cannot remember where it was taken. I think it was a studio photograph of a "Chinese type" for a European book about China. A group of military themed photographs were sold last year or the year before in France. These were on glass plates and included the archery instructor picture featured in The Grey Goose Wing.
Technically it is a good picture of 17th-18th century equipment used by Manchu cavalrymen well into the 19th century. The gun is a long barrelled matchlock. The sword is usually worn with the hilt facing to the back so it does not interfere with the bow case and bow.
The photograph has been used extensively for illustrations of books about the Mongols. It is often mislabelled. Somewhere I found details of the original photograph, but off hand I cannot remember where it was taken. I think it was a studio photograph of a "Chinese type" for a European book about China. A group of military themed photographs were sold last year or the year before in France. These were on glass plates and included the archery instructor picture featured in The Grey Goose Wing.
Bede