The earliest known surviving photograph was taken in 1826 or 1827 by Joseph Nicephore Niepce. The earliest known use of “war photography” came during the Crimean War of the 1850s. The genre was born, with British photographers like Roger Fenton, James Robertson, the Italian-British Felice Beato, and the Austro-Hungarian Carol Szathmari. These individuals were the fathers of early military photography. For our re-enacting colleagues who choose to do time periods dating post 1850 in many cases there are at least some photographs that can be used for research purposes and reference.
However, for those of us that choose to do time periods before photography the closest we can come is the period painting/illustration. The period illustration was the photography of the time, but unlike a photograph a period illustration has many drawbacks. The limitations of using period illustrations as reference is great, but the value is also great. The Regiment von Itzenplitz has attempted to collect and review many period illustrations of the Prussian army, and more specifically the Regiment von Itzenplitz. No single image is appropriate to use entirely, and they all poses drawbacks, but when reviewed as a whole, and subjected to critical thought and speculation valuable information can still be gleaned from them.
What follows below is an incomplete list of known period or new period images and some more modern illustrations based on written accounts of the uniforms and style of the Prussian army and the Regiment von Itzenplitz. As stated above each has its own unique issues, and prior to using any image as a reference a thorough understanding of the image should first be obtained.
However, for those of us that choose to do time periods before photography the closest we can come is the period painting/illustration. The period illustration was the photography of the time, but unlike a photograph a period illustration has many drawbacks. The limitations of using period illustrations as reference is great, but the value is also great. The Regiment von Itzenplitz has attempted to collect and review many period illustrations of the Prussian army, and more specifically the Regiment von Itzenplitz. No single image is appropriate to use entirely, and they all poses drawbacks, but when reviewed as a whole, and subjected to critical thought and speculation valuable information can still be gleaned from them.
What follows below is an incomplete list of known period or new period images and some more modern illustrations based on written accounts of the uniforms and style of the Prussian army and the Regiment von Itzenplitz. As stated above each has its own unique issues, and prior to using any image as a reference a thorough understanding of the image should first be obtained.
Regiment von Itzenplitz Soldier from Uniformes Prussiennes et Saxonnes (circa 1757/1758).
Regiment von Itzenplitz Soldier and Officer by von Schmalen (Circa 1759).
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Regiment von Itzenplitz Soldier by Johann Becher (circa 1757-1760).
Regiment von Itzenplitz Office, NCO, and Soldiers Uniform by Carl Wellner (circa 1759).
Regiment von Itzenplitz NCO from Unter dem Preußen-Adler. Das brandenburgisch-preußische Heer 1640-1807 by Hans Blackween (image circe 1770).
Regiment von Itzenplitz Soldiers and Officer from Heerschau der Soldaten Friedrich's des Großen by Adolph Menzel (circa 1856).
Carl Röchling (1895).
Hans Bleckwenn (1981).
Regiment von Itzenplitz Officer, NCO, and Soldier from Summerfield, Stephen. Prussian Musketeer Regiments of the War of Austrian Succession and the Seven Years War: Uniforms, Organization and Equipment. Ken Trotman Publishing, 2012. Print.
