Bismarck protrait with pickelhaube

[Hermann]

Good day. I want to have a painting made of a portrait of Fürst Bismarck. He is supposed to be wearing a pickelhaube.
I have found out, hopefully correctly, that Bismarck was in the cuirassier regiment. Thus, depending on the year, he would wear either the M1867 officer's helmet for cuirassiers or the M1889. I have only found one photo for the M1867 that matches the corresponding cuirassier regiment.
I looked on historien-kabinett.com but only found differences in the measurements. So I wonder if you would see a difference between an M1867 and M1889 pickelhaube in the painting?
I would be very grateful for any helpful answers.
Best regards

 

[Hermann]

Edit: I found out that he did not wear the Landwehr Cross on his wappen

 

[ccj]

There are a few images on line of von Bismarck wearing uniform. Im not sure but it looks like older model

 

[Hermann]

Thank you for your respone.
I've also seen the pictures of him. The one you show is said to be from 1894. But I don't yet know which year the protrait refers to. As the painter attaches great importance to historical accuracy and I also value this very highly, I attach great importance to the correct depiction of the pickelhaube. Hence the question of whether it is at all possible to visually perceive a difference in the depiction?

 

[Sandmann]

I think Bismark last wore an officer helmet M1867. Here are photos of one of the last, or even the last meeting, of Kaiser Wilhelm II. with Otto von Bismarck in Friedrichsruh, on March 26, 1895:

Friedrichsruh

Album bound in varnished sheepskin with cardboard leaves, with gold on top, in which 12 photos are mounted within a white outlined passe-partout with gold on top, of the visit of Kaiser Wilhelm II to the former Chancellor Otto von Bismarck at his Friedrichsruh estate, on the occasion of his 80th...

kenniscentrumhuisdoorn.nl

He definitely still has a fairly high helmet with a large front visor.

 

[Sandmann]

Here are still good photos of his personal cuirass. Certainly also useful for your painting:

Der Doppelkürass (Ausrüstung 2/3) - Otto-von-Bismarck-Stiftung

Neben den Stiefeln, die gewissermaßen die Basis für eine jede Uniform bilden und bereits in unserer Reihe Das besondere Exponat ihren „Auf-Tritt“ hatten, darf auch der namensgebende Kürass als Bestandteil der Reitermontur nicht fehlen. Der Begriff selbst geht auf das französische Wort ‚cuirasse‘...

www.bismarck-stiftung.de

Kleiderordnung mit Kalkül - Otto-von-Bismarck-Stiftung

Mit welcher Garderobe sollte er sich als preußischer Ministerpräsident und deutscher Reichskanzler in der Öffentlichkeit zeigen? Otto von Bismarck löste diese tägliche Frage wie für einen Adeligen durchaus üblich mit einer Uniform. Diese Entscheidung erscheint mit Blick auf seine persönliche...

www.bismarck-stiftung.de

Geschenke

Die Otto von Bismarck-Online-Biografie bietet einen umfassenden, wissenschaftlich funiderten Überblick über Leben und Wirken des preußischen Ministerpräsidenten

www.bismarck-biografie.de

The medals from Otto of Bismarck

https://gmic.co.uk/topic/15179-otto-von-bismarck-awards/page/2/

 

[kuerassier]

His hemet in the Museum für Deutsche Geschichte in Berlin.

 

[Sandmann]

His hemet in the Museum für Deutsche Geschichte in Berlin.

Awesome. Could you please send me the link of the picture for my archive?

 

[Hermann]

Thank you all very much for your help!
I now clearly have enough and above all, very good material and photos

 

[Sandmann]

Please let us see your final portrait

 

[Hermann]

I will do that. But it will take a while, as the painter has a full order book.

 

[cptbob]

I believe he was an adopted member of the 2nd kurassier regiment. Von Moltke called him something like “the civilian that wears a kurassier uniform”

 

[Sandmann]

I believe he was an adopted member of the 2nd kurassier regiment. Von Moltke called him something like “the civilian that wears a kurassier uniform”

Some information about Bismarck:
Bismarck began his military career on March 25, 1838 at the age of 23 as a one-year volunteer with the “Garde-Jägerbataillon” in Potsdam. In the same year he was transferred to the 2nd Jäger Division in Greifswald and was discharged on March 26, 1839 as a non-commissioned officer in the 1st Battalion of the 2nd Landwehr Regiment.
He was promoted to second lieutenant on August 12, 1841 and transferred to the battalion's cavalry on August 14 of that year.
On 13.4.1850 he transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the 26th Landwehr Regiment and on 29.4.1852 to the 7th Heavy Landwehr Cavalry Regiment (7. Schwere Landwehr-Reiter-Regiment). On 19.11.1854 he was promoted to Premier-Leutnant, and on 28.10.1859 to Rittmeister.
On 18.10.1861 he received the rank of major and on 20.9.1866, bypassing lieutenant colonel and colonel, the rank of Generalmajor. At the same time, he was appointed as head of the 7th Heavy Landwehr Cavalry Regiment.
On October 18, 1868, after the dissolution of the cavalry regiments, he became head of the 1st Magdeburg Landwehr Regiment No. 26 and at the same time he was placed à la suite with Cuirassier Regiment No. 7. This also gave him permission to wear the uniform at court and otherwise as he wished.
On the day of the imperial proclamation, January 18, 1871, he was promoted to General-Lieutenant and awarded the Iron Cross 1st and 2nd Class. On March 21, 1871, he was also elevated to the rank of prince by the count.
On March 22, 1876, on the occasion of the Emperor's birthday, he was promoted to General of Cavalry.
On September 1, 1884, he was finally awarded the highest military decoration “Pour le Mérite”, with oak leaves, although this was otherwise only awarded for repeated decorations of the order.
On March 8, 1888, Bismarck was able to shake hands with Emperor Wilhelm I for the last time. HRH wanted to see him again on his deathbed to express his deepest appreciation and gratitude. When the Emperor died on March 9, Bismarck tearfully announced the accession of Emperor Frederick III, which shows how much Emperor William I and Prince von Bismarck appreciated each other.
When the provincial Landwehr regiments were abolished, Prince von Bismarck, whose position with the 26th Landwehr Regiment was also affected, was placed à la suite with the 2nd Guards Landwehr Regiment on August 16, 1888.
On March 20, 1890, he was appointed “Generaloberst” of cavalry, with the rank of “Generalfeldmarschall”.
On January 26, 1894, he was appointed Chief of Cuirassier Regiment No. 7, leaving à la suite the 2nd Guards Landwehr Regiment.
Bismarck himself regarded all these promotions merely as titles. And he mainly wore his general's coat because he didn't have to change his clothes if he was summoned to the Emperor.