Ray Westlake

Representation of the Uniforms of the Imperial Army of All Russia 1790-98

Christian Gottfried Heinrich Geissler, draughtsman and etcher, produced this fine and important series of Russian military costumes when he spent the years 1790 to 1798 serving as the expedition artist with the Prussian zoologist and botanist Peter Simon Pallas, on his travels in the Caucasus and southern Russia. On his return to his birth town of Leipzig, Geissler published the Pallas works as well as his own illustrated accounts of Russian customs and costumes. Russian types were a favourite of foreign artists who visited or resided in Moscow or St. Petersburg. The plates are accurately reproduced in facsimile from the deluxe version, of the larger format, of this fine series of Russian military costumes, that benefited from being both beautifully hand-coloured and heightened with gold. Lively commentary from expert Ray Westlake on each plate enhances their usefulness for the modern uniformologist. Seventy military figures are shown and form part of our developing range of books dedicated to uniformology, drawing on seminal works from the 18th and 19th century. They are masterpieces of military art, and important historical reference works. The history of the Russian army in this era was linked to the name of Alexander Suvorov, a Russian general, reckoned one of a few great generals in history who never lost a battle. He fought the Turks during the Russo-Turkish War of 1787-1792 and won many victories. Suvorov's leadership also played a key role in Russian victory over the Poles during the Kościuszko Uprising.