A painting question from Hellsing

[Sunshine Temple]

There's a rather impressive piece of art in Hellsing volume 2 OVA episode 3.

It's in the meeting between Integra and Maxwell.

The manga doesn't have a clear image of it, but does name the piece and the artist. "Wilander Earl of Worcester at the Battle of Mammon Plain" by Kaster. They also say it's in the Imperial War Museum in London. I've been there and don't recall it, but it was years ago and the place is huge.

Edit: Apparently it's not in that museum's catalog. Thanks Strat.

Now I haven't been able to find any referance to the Earl, the battle or the artist.

The OVA provides a much clear image of the art.

It's very large and stunning

I'm pretty sure it's something the manga-ka made up but if it's a real piece that would be very neat too.

And yes this is for a fic of mine. Fairly obvious which one it's for.

And thanks to DCG for getting the image capture for me.

[Tuisto]

There's never been an English Earl by the name of "Wilander".
There's no Battle on a place called "Mammon Plain" not surprising since Mammon is a Christian demon, so it's unlikely there's anyplace in Europe with -that- for a name, it would've been considered a cursed place.

The name and sourcing is falsch, but the painting -DOES- look as though it's been copied from something more substantial though.

Sorry.

[Spokavriel]

There are lots of paintings and other items that Museums store. If a Museum ever was able to keep all of its collections on public display all at the same time it would get a massive amount of visitors at most for a little over a year then when people came around again the next year and saw it was all still the same they'd move on.

I should check and see if I have a clearer rendition of that piece in any of the books around here because it looks familiar.

As to the name. There are millions of works of art with names that use a theological aspect for the title using it as a physical aspect. The image I am thinking of might not be the right one anyway. I seem to remember some banners closer to the edges worked in with the pikes and lances.

[claymade]

...since Mammon is a Christian demon...

Not quite exactly considered so in a literal sense according to any actual doctrine that I'm aware of, although I suppose it could have taken on that connotation in later allegorical playings with the text. "Mammon" is actually an Aramaic word for "wealth"--more specifically, "wealth as an object of desire and false worship."

In other words, it describes material riches--in the condition where those material riches have effectively become a person's god. Hence why Jesus warns that one "cannot serve God and mammon."

Still wouldn't be a particularly auspicious name for a plain, of course.

[lwf58]

It's pretty obvious that it's not a real painting.

First off, the name doesn't match the subject; the painting depicts what looks like a couple of Greek hoplite phalanxes facing off. The idea that an earl from a country that won't exist for hundreds of years later would be there is ludicrous.

Secondly, while I agree that the composition is striking, there are no details on the foreground figures, and there would be at least some in a real painting, even if it were impressionistic.

There's also an amateurish mistake in it. The phalanx on the left has its shields facing the viewer. Shields are always held on the left arm of a hoplite, because they are used to form a wall by interlocking with the shields of the men to the right and left of a given soldier.

Still, a real painting similar to that one would be good. It has a nice look to it.

[Spokavriel]

That "Mistake" is in a few true paintings I have seen where the artist was having the armies facing a reflection of themselves. I don't see the painting I was thinking of in any of the books on hand. Maybe it's in one of the art books my sister or mom has.

[Moira]

I would try to mail that screenshot to the Studio that produced the OVA and maybe even the Imperial War Museum in London. Maybe you have luck and they can tell you.

[Sunshine Temple]

I figured it wasn't real.

Given that the battle, artist, lord, et al don't exist.

But as was said it could have been based off of something.

The sheild thing was probably artistically done. Proper shields may not have been as striking.

Ah well, if this was based off of a real painting I would have liked to use that one.

[J. St.C. Patrick]

Manga image (dark horse, book 2 page 131)


close up of the plaque in front of the painting - large print reads ATORIDE HILS(...)[not that it helps much]


When I first read that page I took the title as being allegorical rather than litteral and refering to the events occuring in the story.

Here's a modern surrealist painting showing mistake of wrong shield side
battle of crockery

They also say it's in the Imperial War Museum in London. I've been there and don't recall it, but it was years ago and the place is huge.

When I visited it I thought it somewhat apropriate that it sits on the site of the Bethlehem hospital for the insane, which was better known as Bedlam.

[Sunshine Temple]

I was reading more Hellsing and found the image used again.

This time in volume 7 pg 183of the Dark Horse translation.



The narration continues on the page overlaying images of the leaders of the three factions Maxwell, Montana, and Intergra. The last panels has the upraised "long guns" from the Vatican forces.

And the following narration text.

"Those who gathered before a paining of ranks of spears..."
"... Have now met again before the real thing."

The chances of it being a piece specifically made-up for the story have greatly increased.

As others have said, it likely draws inspiration from paintings of that style, but the artist, battle, and earl were likely picked for the story.