Art for capt_facepalm: Remembrance Day

[methylviolet10b]

Title: Remembrance Day
Recipient: capt_facepalm
Artist: enname
Rating: G
Medium: Graphite
Character/s: Holmes and Watson
Summary: An illustration from capt_facepalm's Roll Call, for the following passage:

Some time later, a light tread on the floor tiles indicated someone’s approach so Watson recovered his composure as best he could. The slight creak as someone seated themselves in the pew behind him caused Watson to raise his bowed head in anticipation of unwelcome attention.
“My dear fellow, is there anything I can do for you?” a familiar, but unexpected voice inquired with great concern.

Author's Note: Please pardon any errors in uniform, rank or other matters historiographical in nature. The pews are correct from what I recall of the Reading Minster.

Comments

[capt-facepalm.livejournal.com]

Dear Artist,
Thank you so much for this image!

You have captured the moment just before Watson realises that it is Holmes who has taken the seat behind him. Even though the rest of his regiment is gathered outside, Watson is still all alone with his grief. Holmes, who is not known for his sympathetic nature, nonetheless has a wonderful sense of timing.

Your faces are very compelling. Watson looks so... bereft (Poor Watson!), and Holmes seems willing to give him the time he needs. I also like the details you included like Holmes' pocket watch chain.

As for the historical details: It is all good. It is important that Watson is in uniform, but I have never been able to figure out exactly what that might look like, nor am I an expert on insignia. (And the pews are perfect: narrow with very rectangular lines.)

So, thanks so much!

[enname.livejournal.com]

Thank you. Mostly though it was a pleasure as I really, really like your writing. It has been most frustrating combing through your work and not leaving feedback, but I thought that a spate of commentary on everything you wrote by one person involved in the same anonmous gift giving fest ...might just be a bit of a giveaway. So in due course I shall go and remedy that.

It is not quite the image I had in mind and the scan does no justice to Holmes (who has managed to get himself bleached out), but it is primarily meant to be about Watson. If there is one time to be bereft, it is when you are mourning the loss of the better part of a regiment. Timing and space have always been things Holmes is good at.

My not-so-inner-historian got a bit pernickety. Watson's uniform is correct to within five years - I could only find one dress uniform for the Berkshire's and it was a bit later (although handily that of a surgeon), when uniforms had undergone some changes. Same as ranking insignia - it shouldn't be on the cuffs, but eh.. hard to see his left shoulder.