Landsknecht clothing colours

[Tim]

I know that some of this falls outside of our period so please accept my apology if this is of no interest to you.

The latest issue of the Journal of the Pike and Shot Society, Arquebusier, has an article, with colour illustrations, about how modern ideas about Landsknecht clothing colours are not supported by contemporary evidence.  A lot of what is discussed is early 16th Century so may not be totally relevant.  If any member is also a member of the PSS it might be worth a look.

[Martin Smith]

I know that some of this falls outside of our period so please accept my apology if this is of no interest to you.

The latest issue of the Journal of the Pike and Shot Society, Arquebusier, has an article, with colour illustrations, about how modern ideas about Landsknecht clothing colours are not supported by contemporary evidence.  A lot of what is discussed is early 16th Century so may not be totally relevant.  If any member is also a member of the PSS it might be worth a look.

In summary, what's the main difference, Tim? Less flamboyant, more faded and grimy than we normally see on the Wargames table?
Martin

[Erpingham]

As early landsknechts do appear right at the end of our period, any interesting insights into the period before extreme slashed and puffed clothing?

[Tim]

I know that some of this falls outside of our period so please accept my apology if this is of no interest to you.

The latest issue of the Journal of the Pike and Shot Society, Arquebusier, has an article, with colour illustrations, about how modern ideas about Landsknecht clothing colours are not supported by contemporary evidence.  A lot of what is discussed is early 16th Century so may not be totally relevant.  If any member is also a member of the PSS it might be worth a look.

In summary, what's the main difference, Tim? Less flamboyant, more faded and grimy than we normally see on the Wargames table?
Martin

Very rare to see more than 3 colours (white, Red, and Pale/Dirty Blue) and usually two of those, yellows typically represent buff coloured slashed jerkins rather than coloured cloth, colours from cheaper dyes, and stripes based rather than Harlequin or Punchinello from the commedia dell'arte.

[Tim]

As early landsknechts do appear right at the end of our period, any interesting insights into the period before extreme slashed and puffed clothing?

Not so much on that, more on colours.

[Erpingham]

Very rare to see more than 3 colours (white, Red, and Pale/Dirty Blue) and usually two of those, yellows typically represent buff coloured slashed jerkins rather than coloured cloth, colours from cheaper dyes, and stripes based rather than Harlequin or Punchinello from the commedia dell'arte.

Bit surprised no black.  Do article assume assume Black Guard and Black bands were an armour thing?

[Tim]

Very rare to see more than 3 colours (white, Red, and Pale/Dirty Blue) and usually two of those, yellows typically represent buff coloured slashed jerkins rather than coloured cloth, colours from cheaper dyes, and stripes based rather than Harlequin or Punchinello from the commedia dell'arte.

Bit surprised no black.  Do article assume assume Black Guard and Black bands were an armour thing?

Black was present but very very rarely in artistic representations that have survived.  (Grey was also very occasionally used.)  The article did not say but it might be that the artists who were painting these subjects did not paint Black Guard and Black Bands because they did not suit the (political?) taste of their patrons...

[Tim]

Following up on the black theme, the only representation I recall ever having seen of a Landsknecht dressed in black is here

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_of_Pavia#/media/File:Battle_of_Pavia.jpg

in the foreground left of the explosion.  The image is from right at the very end of the period.  There may well be others as I have not checked every source.

[Andreas Johansson]

Bit surprised no black.  Do article assume assume Black Guard and Black bands were an armour thing?

I recently read, but cannot recall where, that "black" in Black Guard, Black Bands, etc. is contemporary jargon for elite status, not a description of colour.

On the other hand, acc'd Arfaioli in The Black Bands of Giovanni (available for free at the author's website), the titular unit's title derived from their flags. Of course, these guys aren't strictly speaking Landsknechte.

[Tim]

Andreas, thank you for that.  While technically outwith the remit of the Society, the Arfaioli link takes us to a fascinating work that I will read more of.