Denis Davydov and a Peasant-Guerrilla. Writing Set

“Svyatogor” Hard stone carving studio
2012

Davydov is portrayed in the uniform of a Hussar officer — he assumed command of the guerrilla detachment in this rank. Soon, however, he started wearing a caftan and grew a beard: the matter is that initially the peasants did not recognise Davydov’s squad, confusing their uniform with the French.

Denis Davydov and a Peasant-Guerrilla. Writing Set

History

The peasant resistance movement to the French emerged immediately after the invasion of Napoleon’s army into Russian provinces. People abandoned their villages and disappeared in the woods, taking with them cattle and supplies, and attacked French foragers. Gradually, the peasants themselves formed detachments that fought the invaders. The guerrilla movement in which both officers and soldiers of the regular army and the peasant militia were involved, became a powerful force that accelerated Russia’s victory over Napoleon in the Patriotic War of 1812.

The Stone

The genre of a practical table decoration — a writing set — came into being in the late Middle Ages, when literacy became common. For several centuries such sets always included and inkwell, a sandbox, and a stand for quills. Later, the sets also included boxes for metal pens and holders for blotting paper. With the invention of the ballpoint pen, writing sets change — now they include trays or cups for pencils and pens, boxes for paper clips, and paper holders.

The writing set dedicated to the war of 1812 is an example of design typical today: the lateral elements of the support hide two drawers for office trifles, while the central part decorated with a picture of the Emperor’s mantle (chalcedony and black flint) and the coat of arms of Russia (silver plating, brass, niello) is a paper holder. The combination of green jasper that the base of the set is made of and chalcedony looks like snow at the base of figures reminding that the harsh Russian winter contributed to the victories of the guerrillas appearing in the sculptural pieces.

One should take a particularly close look at the uniform that Denis Davydov is wearing: mosaic elements of tiger’s eye are used for the gold sewing on bright red jasper pelisse and uniform, while a fragment of labradorite with bright blue iridation was selected for the handkerchief.

The second sculpture introduces the viewer to the collective image of the villager — a simple peasant wearing a sheepskin coat made of jasper with fur welting.

A small still life hidden behind the paper holder is a reminder of the main enemy of the Russian people in that war — white gloves of cacholong, a spyglass (brass, gilding, patination, rock crystal), and a replica of the famous “fore and aft” hat of Napoleon I in black jade. The plates with the Russian coat of arms placed in the shade remind of the outcome of the failed military campaign of the French Emperor.

Fyodor Glinka
Guerilla Denis Davydov

The moustached man. His wit is like a Frenchman’s,

His sabre, howe’er, scares the French: He does not let the enemy to tread on fields where corn is yet to grow and with a smile, he touches his Hussar moustache, And disappears in the darkness of the woods — He’s nowhere to be found!.. Sometimes he is invisible, and then he’s near

And shows up again, and follows behind the noisy Frenchmen’s army

And catches them like fish, without nets, with hands. Land is his bed, and forest is his home! And often, with a crowd of Bashkirs and the Cossacks,

With dozens of village men, and women on horseback, and wearing a caftan, the garment of the slaves, though deep at heart he’s no slave He would attack like wind, and seize the guns, and food, and deep at night he, like a ghost, fills enemies with fear. But in his verse he gives his lovers roses. Davydov! This is you, the poet and guerrilla!

Denis Davydov
Diary of Guerrilla Warfare

I noticed that some of the guerrillas, while commanding one individual detachment which is part of the troops, want to lead an army rather than its part, and consider themselves generals rather than guerrillas. That is why their main thought is only to cut the opposing detachment from the army that it belongs to, and hold a position, in a way similar to the Austrian methods. One should know once and for all time that the best position for a detachment is its continuous movement causing uncertainty about the place where it is located, and constant alertness of the standing guards and horseriders whose job is to ensure security and not to let the enemy cut off the detachment — and adherence to the Russian proverb: kill and leave — this is the essence of tactical duties of a guerrilla. My opponent did not know that, and I could cope with him easily. After sending the trophies to town using the same method I had used before, we continued our way towards the highway that we passed by on the 29th with very little effect.