Excellent observation Luc! While artists, authors and film makers typically prefer to to reveal thier inspirations or models for thier creations, it is quite clear that exposure to many sources form their basis.
Rembrandt had quite a collection of arms and armor, and the use of modern ethnographic weapons such as the keris quite of of accurate context in Biblical settings was pushing the limits of artistic license, but very effective visually.
In movies like "Sleepy Hollow" the dramatically effective fantasy sabre carried by Christopher Walken as the 'headless horseman' was again visually quite effective. In looking into the swords which would have been carried by the Hessian cavalry of the period and locations, the regulation sword was of course far from the needed effect.
In art, Frank Frazetta's "Death Dealer" of a mounted barbarian horseman with horned helmet and huge war axe is incredibly impressive. I noticed that the hilt on the sword the warrior is wearing is clearly the Sassanian longsword of about 4th c. (if memory serves). I also noticed that some apparantly earlier versions of the painting did not have the sword.
In any case, probably out of context, but effective in the amalgam of inspirations from varied arms and armor.
It is a great subject, and I think we have had a thread of this topic before which was great fun, and fascinating..there are so many wonderful instances.
Thank you Luc!!!
All the best,
Jim
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