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Matchlock Soldier


Matchlock Soldier
Photo Information
Copyright: Murray Lines (MLINES) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1303 W: 96 N: 1022] (8472)
Genre: People
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2009-06-24
Categories: Daily Life, Portrait
Camera: Canon EOS 50D, Sigma 18-200 Zoom F3.5-6.3 DC
Exposure: f/5.6, 1/250 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2009-08-06 3:42
Viewed: 143
Points: 8
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
This guy was carrying an old style of gun, maybe called a flintlock. Part of a large procession, commemorating a rough form of football.

Thanks to Bri for correcting the ID of this weapon to Matchlock.

As far as a precise date is concerned, the origin of this sports event dates back to February 17, 1530 when Florence was besieged by the imperial troops of Charles V and in Piazza Santa Croce a match was disputed between the "bianchi" and the "verdi" in sign of contempt and to provoke the enemy.

It is known for certain that a sport with similar characteristics and called "Arpasto", was practised by the Roman legionnaires of ancient Florentia and its playing recalls the battle order of the Roman army.

In the 1500's it was played mainly in the large piazzas of Florence (Piazza Santo Spirito, Piazza Santa Maria Novella and Piazza Santa Croce) where the playing ground of sand was prepared to host the encounters of the four teams, "verdi, rossi, bianchi and azzurri," which represented the Florentine districts of the period: San Giovanni, Santa Maria Novella, Santo Spirito and Santa Croce.

Matches were held for Carnival or for special recurrences and the particularly rough sport was practised by the young nobles who sought with their ability to conquer the hearts of noble Florentine ladies.

The tradition of Calcio Storico continued almost uninterrupted until the XVIII century and fell into disuse until 1930. Since then, three games are played regularly every year between the end of June on the occasion of St. John's Day, patron saint of Florence, and the beginning of July.

Notes from www.catpress.com/fan/cultura/calcsto/xedcalci.htm
chrisJ has marked this note useful
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Discussions
ThreadThread Starter Messages Updated
To rewshearer: Monty PythonMLINES 1 08-06 13:39
To bri: MatchlockMLINES 1 08-06 13:29
To chrisJ: Burn the highlightsMLINES 2 08-06 06:34
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Critiques [Translate]

hi Murray good portrait shot with a good dof the details are sharp tfs
regards bryan

Hi Murray

Excellent use of a shallow dof, with good color & perfect sharpness on the Florentine guard. The high contrast looks like it was very challenging to shoot, here. Perhaps I'd burn in the highlights? Tfs!

  • Great 
  • bri Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Note Writer [C: 345 W: 0 N: 414] (2222)
  • [2009-08-06 10:58]
  • [+]

Hi Murray,
This type of firearm is known as the matchlock, used in Europe around the mid 1400's, it used a smouldering wick or 'match' to ignite the powder in the pan as opposed to the flint striking the frizzen to give a spark onto the powder in the pan.
Great portrait of this guard carrying the weapon, the colours and focus are good with a great DoF. Good framing of the subject in the picture. TFS
Bri

There is something about his look to your camera - the tight-lipped expression revealing very slight chagrin at being caught in costume - that smacks of Monty Python.

Nice composition to show face and musket in balance.

Rew

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