05-12-2008, 11:21 AM
Quote:Artists! What we would do with out them?
Indeed!
I always liked the drama and action of Angus McBride's work, but was never keen on his bulked-up, steroid-enhanced figures. However, he did stick fairly closely to my designs (though sometimes he added extras which I didn't like at all). I was told by my first editor at Osprey that he was difficult to deal with and would never make corrections to his work, but he did to one painting - plate A in Roman Legionary, 58 BC - AD 69. However, Osprey printed the uncorrected version! (The corrections were minor - plain belt plates, and small changes to the pilum diagram.)
If I had the chance, I'd make changes to all of the plates in my three Osprey books, the problem being my designs rather than the artists' work. However, I think that plate F of Roman Legionary turned out rather well (Teutoburg scene) - and Angus McBride created that from what was a fairly vague outline. I also like plate F of Imperial Roman Legionary (II Parthica vs. Praetorians in AD 218), though I will concede that I should have specified helmets for the soldiers, the shield blazons are too speculative and I dislike the way Angus McBride put II Parthica's eagle in what looks like an over-sized budgie cage, rather than the type of cage depicted on the tombstone of Felsonius Verus.
Cheers,
R