Huzzah for the weekend!

[anteros_lmc]

Hello, apologies for being somewhat incommunicado this week, work is rubbish and taking up way too much of my time right now. However I am off for a few days - HUZZAH! - so hopefully I'll have a chance to catch up over the weekend.

While I'm here, many thanks to dear sarlania for sending me this gorgeous postcard from Sydney.


The picture is titled Sydney in all its glory and it's from the sketch book of Edward Close, 1817. I just love the little marines infantry soldiers lounging in the corner :)

In other exciting news, if the travel gods smile on us, I might get to meet kittycallum while she is on her travels next week. How exciting is that?!

Comments

[latin-cat.livejournal.com]

You know, if there's one thing I didn't expect to see depicted in Sydney it was windmills.

*squints* Going by the shape of and brass plates on the shako I'd say those are infantry soldiers, not Marines.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Ship + red coats + ignorance on my part = "marines" XD Thank you for identifying the little chaps more correctly :) According to British Regiments in the Colonies they are most likely the South Devonshire or Northamptonshire regiments of foot.

[latin-cat.livejournal.com]

In that case I'd hazard it to be 48th (Northamptonshire), as they had buff facings. 46th (South Devonshire) had yellow facings - and putting the card up to maximum magnification it looks like buff to me. Plus arriving in 1817 the 48th would have the new style of shako, which the little guys in the picture are sporting.

/nerdishness.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

I have peered at the card and the facings definitely look more buff than yellow. 48th it is then! They're cute little guys aren't they? *g*

PS Love nerds :)

ETA Hey look, we were spot on! This article says that "the watercolour is one of many in the sketchbook of Lieutenant Edward Close, who arrived in Sydney in 1817 with the 48th Northamptonshire Regiment of Foot." Clever nerds! :D

[latin-cat.livejournal.com]

They're really sweet - especially the sunbathing one. *pets them*

Go us! :D Like I said, fangirls will rule the waves.

[eglantine-br.livejournal.com]

They look very cheerful, frolicking on the beach. One appears to be reclined on the sand. He does not know much about sunbathing though-- he is still wearing his shako! (Maybe he is trying to avoid a Bamberesque sunburn!)

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

They're very laid back looking infantry aren't they?! And very sensible to keep their shakos on too :)

Here's another rather charming water colour from Lt Close:

[charliecochrane.livejournal.com]

Loverly. Have a great break, sweetie pie.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Enjoying it already!

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Yum, I love watercolors! Judging on the composition, this one looks like cut, that is missing the bottom and probably also the right side.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right! The postcard image is cropped from a larger scene:


And you can see some more of Lt Close's watercolours here.

[aletheiafelinea.livejournal.com]

Ooh, wonderful! He was really talented in landscapes, more than portraits.

[anteros-lmc.livejournal.com]

Yes, he had a real eye for landscapes didn't he?