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16th May 2009, 05:44 PM | #31 |
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A few more.
Looking at these woodcuts there is no doubt about the fact that all these authors and illustrators copied from each other and especially from earlier works! Copyright had not been invented. Michael |
17th May 2009, 02:33 AM | #32 |
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Hi Michael,
The ones you just showed look much more familiar. Now I know where the modern reconstructionists are using to make those trebuchets and siege equipment. They need to make one of those assault dragons, though. As an aside, people are still reprinting Roman works with new pictures. As a child, I was given one that had some of Pliny's Naturalis historia (in latin) with fanciful pictures attached. They'd picked Pliny's more colorful mistakes to illustrate, of course. Even under modern law, the old texts are in the public domain, so someone could take Flavius Vegetius Renatus and illustrate it as they liked. Project for someone here, perhaps, without herbal inspiration? F |
17th May 2009, 03:31 PM | #33 | |
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Things would be much too dull . This is what happens when they ran out of such resource ... even the overimaginative author of Vier Bücher der Rytterschafft; cannons do look ... like cannons . Fernando . |
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17th May 2009, 06:50 PM | #34 |
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Hi, Fearn and Fernando,
I do like your ideas, pals! BTW, the following are from: Anonymous: Ingenieurskunst- und Wunderbuch (Book of Engineering and Wonders), Weimar, Germany, 1522. Meet well known earlier illustrative motifs, just slightly altered. Best, Michael |
17th May 2009, 07:10 PM | #35 | |
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Hi Fernando, Believe me, I have been searching for reprints ever since I got my hands on the first original book in the Munich State Library where these scans are taken from. I could not find any reprints. Apart from that, Vegetius' texts have been reprinted throughout the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries in numerous variations, many of which do not contain any illustrations at all. I have found only one other copy printed in Paris in 1534 or 1536 which is profusely illustrated including early firearms. Let's be patient though. The big libraries keep scanning more and more books from their hidden treasures and publishing them on the web. Within a few years our knowledge will have been immeasurably enriched! Best, Michael |
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17th May 2009, 07:23 PM | #36 | |
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Hello Richard, Though mostly on your side with all your profound thoughts and notes, in this case (a school-boy doodling around in ... his exercise book) I feel that Emanuel's explanation is more intriguing: the outcome is just far too brilliant in its basic understanding of technical features as well as in the wide range of its devices to possibly stem from a doodling simple mind. Best, Michael |
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17th May 2009, 07:33 PM | #37 | |
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Hi Emanuel, In my eyes, your observations and conclusions are stunningly well on the topic. Your technical gift and discerning wit are a bit beyond my limited horizon, I have to admit! Many thanks for those great comments on that indeed fascinating subject! Best, Michael |
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17th May 2009, 10:07 PM | #38 | ||
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Quote:
If anybody wants a copy and has dificulties downloading it, just tell; i will email one to him. Fernando. |
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18th May 2009, 03:19 PM | #39 |
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The Text
I can read the Gothic print type quite well but to me, as in many contemporary books, it seems a bit bewildering and does not give any clue to the illustrations. Also, the text states that the book is about knighthood and the virtues of noble personalities whereas the illustrations depict mercenaries at siege work and fantabulous devices of variuos kind. It is true that some of them wear parts of knightly armor but none is shown to wear a suit of armor. We know from many contemporary illustrative sources that that was the usual Landsknechts' mixed wear: parts of armor or a mail shirt combined with the "buntes Wams", the traditional colorful mercenaries' clothing and the feathered beret.
In the late Middle Ages, colorful clothing was a strict privilege of the nobility and the clergy, while brown and grey clothes were allocated to mercenaries and peasants. At the middle of the 15th century an interesting kind of cultural revolution was started, combined with a radically new aplomb of the mercenaries. They became aware of the fact that wars and land could only be won by their social group, the commons, and that the nobility were reliant on them. That understanding led to a completely new self confidence of the mercenaries. As free lancers, they could choose for themelves what war lord to serve. Their weapons and clothes were their own property and the more skillful they were in the use of their weapons the higher was their pay. The war booty being part of their pay, many of them used parts of armor and better weapons to improve their own defense and increase their value when bargaining with another war lord for their next pay. All in all, I do not think that an actual understanding of the text is necessary. In my opinion it is the close study of the illustrations that is most important. Michael |
19th May 2009, 05:47 PM | #40 |
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From a Book on Warfare by Philip Mönch, 1496
Another variant of well known devices but some new additions as well.
Michael |
19th May 2009, 05:50 PM | #41 |
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More.
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19th May 2009, 07:17 PM | #42 |
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Great drawings, Michael .
Fertile imagination ... the main source for inventions of efective stuff. I feel pity for the guys that had all the work to build that continuous movement apparatus for the flooding of the castle (tower); the smart Knight will easily get away by using such a brilliant a inflatable vest . Fernando BTW, multi barrel devices are always contemplated . |
20th May 2009, 02:27 PM | #43 |
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Very well put, Fernando,
Thank you so much, Michael |
20th May 2009, 08:22 PM | #44 |
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HI Michael,
yes, this multi barrel Illustration can be fired, all the barrels with the ignition of one barrel.(your first picture) I have a publication of a 12 barrel gun out of the Visser collection with this same principle. Iam in the Monaco at the moment but will place the publication in this thread coming weekend. Best regards |
21st May 2009, 12:54 PM | #45 |
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Hi Cornelis,
I am looking forward to seeing your post! Return quickly! Best, Michael |
26th May 2009, 07:56 PM | #46 |
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Hi Michael,
I think the multi barrel Illustration can be fired, there are 2 different possibilities. 1.Model with separate external vents. After 3 barrels have been fired, you turn the raster 45 grad and shoot the next 3 cannonballs at the target turn the raster again 45 grad and so on. same principle as the visser cannon auction at Bonham's Nov 2007. 2.Model where the barrels have internal vents. All the barrels are fired by a single ignition at the central knot where all the barrels come together. Principle as five barreled flintlock pistol in the Visser collection. However must say that I don't know where the gunman has to stand without being shot by himself when firing the raster. best regards |
28th May 2009, 03:15 PM | #47 |
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Hi Cornelis,
Thank you so much for this contribution. The ingnition system based on the internal vents/touchholes reminds me instantly of the superimposed load principle dealt with at large by Colonel D.R. Baxter: Superimposed Load Firearms 1360-1860, Hong Kong, 1966, which has doubtlessly remained the final word on the subject. Best, Michael |
5th June 2009, 07:26 PM | #48 |
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A 'high tech' adjustable bronze cannon carriage from an early 16th century manuscript.
Michael |
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