'L'amour' from SidneyR - 'The Proposal'

For the fourth Theme Round, once again we visit the fictional Flemish town of Laarden, which I’ve been building in 28mm.  This time, Mademoiselle Brochet is receiving a proposal from the dazzlingly over-dressed Antoine de Gautier, a young Flemish cavalier who you might remember striking a pose in the front rank of my second Theme Round submission while being immortalised in oils.  The rakish Antoine is accompanied by his “battle dog”, Ares, who he has prepared for the visit a set of ludicrous ribbons as outlandish as his own.  At least Antoine has not arrived without a gift for his paramour – a Valentine’s gold engagement ring  - and a declaration of his love.

Mademoiselle Brochet is dressed more sensibly that our heroic chevalier, although she’s still wearing Laarden’s civic colours: yellow on her somewhat extravagant hat, and blue ribbons on her own dog, Aphrodite.  A cluster of Laarden chickens have stolen into the scene, the hen clucking excitedly around the new town cockerel.  And maybe, given time, the dogs of the Chevalier de Gautier and Mademoiselle Brochet might even find themselves amorously involved.

Will young Antoine’s proposal be accepted?  Will Ares and Aphrodite fall in love? Perhaps we’ll find out in a later Themed Round.

I wanted to keep this Themed Round set in the Flemish town of the first three rounds, repeating colours, scenes and figures already painted.  And, because I love telling a story, and in a similarly daft fashion, I’ve put young Antoine in the same buff yellow as in Round 2, albeit with more ribbons, an outrageous hat and a ridiculous wig.  Mademoiselle Brochet is dressed with blue and yellow, the same colour as the Laarden militia’s standard from Round 2.  The cobblestones and the chickens featured in themed rounds 1 and 2, but fortunately no lazy workmen have (typically) turned up this time.  The figures are Dixon Miniatures for Antoine, and Warbases for Mademoiselle brochet and the animals, plus some hand swaps, and a lot of greenstuff and brownstuff putty!

Rather sentimental, and a long way from the realities of seventeenth century warfare.  But then, it is Valentine’s Day today!