Был ли Турок предком Копенгагена?
Проверить невозможно, но хочется думать, что был. Во всяком случае, несколько родоначальников английской верховой породы носили имя Турок. Как сообщает Википедия: all modern Thoroughbreds carry the genetics of three stallions imported to England from the Middle East in the late 17th and early 18th centuries: the Darley Arabian, to whom 95% of today's Thoroughbred pedigrees trace, the Godolphin Arabian, also known as the Godolphin Barb (Because this horse was born in Morocco, there is some dispute among historians whether this horse was a true Arabian or a Barb. However, based on paintings from life, the stallion was clearly Arabian in type, a Barb is built differently), and the Byerly Turk (who may have been a Turkoman Horse rather than an Arabian), together with around 35 mares. There are also other horses of oriental breeding that have been less of an influence but are still noteworthy. These include the Unknown Arabian, the Helmsley Turk, the Lister Turk and Darcy's Chestnut. Вполне допустимо предположить, что прототипом Турка из «Ртути» был Byerly Turk, и в жилах Копенгагена текла и его кровь.
И уж, до кучи, кое-какие сведения о Копенгагене, не вошедшие в комментарии к «The Ladies of Grace Adieu»: Born in 1808, he was a chestnut stallion of 15 hands. Sired by Meteor, who was second in the Derby of 1786, Copenhagen was a failed race horse. He won only one minor race at Newmarket in 13 outings. He was then shipped off to Spain during the Peninsular War and it was here that he was purchased by Wellington in 1813. Copenhagen carried the Duke throughout the day at Waterloo and, to illustrate that he was a horse of some spirit, he tried to kick him when he dismounted at the end of the battle. After Waterloo, he was retired to the Duke's country estate at Stratfield Saye where he lived out his life. He died in 1836 at the age of 28. He was given a funeral with full military honours on the estate. His grave, which can be seen today, is marked by a magnificent turkey oak tree planted in 1843 by Mrs. Apostles, the Duke's housekeeper.
… following the unveiling of a fine equestrian statue of King George III by Matthew Wyatt in Cockspur Street, a proposal was made to erect an equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington in the West End of London. A General Committee for the "Wellington Military Memorial" was formed under the chairmanship of the Duke of Rutland. So began fifty years of intermittent controversy about the statue that now stands in Aldershot.
…
Only by standing beneath the statue can one appreciate its colossal size. It is nearly 30 feet high, 26 feet from nose to tail, over 22 feet in girth and weighs 40 tons. It was executed entirely in Matthew Wyatt's workshops in the Harrow Road where he built two great furnaces one capable of melting 12 tons and the other 20 tons of metal, chiefly bronze from cannon captured by the British at the Battle of Waterloo. The plaster cast of the horse's body was moulded round a frame like the ribs of a ship and the whole statue was cast in eight pieces, being joined partly by screw bolts and partly by fusing. Thirty men were engaged in the work which took over three years. Wellington sat for the sculptor and is depicted, wearing his customary short cloak, mounted on his favourite charger Copenhagen…
But no sooner had the scaffolding been removed than controversy broke out again, the horse, all the knowledgeable old soldiers said, didn't look anything like Copenhagen, particularly the ears.
Copenhagen carried Wellington throughout the day at Waterloo, was very well known and easily recognised in the horse mounted society of that era. Wellington was never sentimental about Copenhagen but his appreciation of the horse's quality was well expressed in his comment that "there may have been many faster horses, no doubt many handsomer, but for bottom and endurance I never saw his fellow". However, Copenhagen died in 1836 and Matthew Wyatt had used a horse called Rosemary as his model for the charger. Many others, on seeing the Statue in position on to of the Triumphal Arch, agreed with Decimus Burton that it was quite out of proportion and even looked ridiculous. It was facetiously nicknamed "The Archduke" and was the butt of much humour in Punch.
И уж, до кучи, кое-какие сведения о Копенгагене, не вошедшие в комментарии к «The Ladies of Grace Adieu»: Born in 1808, he was a chestnut stallion of 15 hands. Sired by Meteor, who was second in the Derby of 1786, Copenhagen was a failed race horse. He won only one minor race at Newmarket in 13 outings. He was then shipped off to Spain during the Peninsular War and it was here that he was purchased by Wellington in 1813. Copenhagen carried the Duke throughout the day at Waterloo and, to illustrate that he was a horse of some spirit, he tried to kick him when he dismounted at the end of the battle. After Waterloo, he was retired to the Duke's country estate at Stratfield Saye where he lived out his life. He died in 1836 at the age of 28. He was given a funeral with full military honours on the estate. His grave, which can be seen today, is marked by a magnificent turkey oak tree planted in 1843 by Mrs. Apostles, the Duke's housekeeper.
… following the unveiling of a fine equestrian statue of King George III by Matthew Wyatt in Cockspur Street, a proposal was made to erect an equestrian statue of the Duke of Wellington in the West End of London. A General Committee for the "Wellington Military Memorial" was formed under the chairmanship of the Duke of Rutland. So began fifty years of intermittent controversy about the statue that now stands in Aldershot.
…
Only by standing beneath the statue can one appreciate its colossal size. It is nearly 30 feet high, 26 feet from nose to tail, over 22 feet in girth and weighs 40 tons. It was executed entirely in Matthew Wyatt's workshops in the Harrow Road where he built two great furnaces one capable of melting 12 tons and the other 20 tons of metal, chiefly bronze from cannon captured by the British at the Battle of Waterloo. The plaster cast of the horse's body was moulded round a frame like the ribs of a ship and the whole statue was cast in eight pieces, being joined partly by screw bolts and partly by fusing. Thirty men were engaged in the work which took over three years. Wellington sat for the sculptor and is depicted, wearing his customary short cloak, mounted on his favourite charger Copenhagen…
But no sooner had the scaffolding been removed than controversy broke out again, the horse, all the knowledgeable old soldiers said, didn't look anything like Copenhagen, particularly the ears.
Copenhagen carried Wellington throughout the day at Waterloo, was very well known and easily recognised in the horse mounted society of that era. Wellington was never sentimental about Copenhagen but his appreciation of the horse's quality was well expressed in his comment that "there may have been many faster horses, no doubt many handsomer, but for bottom and endurance I never saw his fellow". However, Copenhagen died in 1836 and Matthew Wyatt had used a horse called Rosemary as his model for the charger. Many others, on seeing the Statue in position on to of the Triumphal Arch, agreed with Decimus Burton that it was quite out of proportion and even looked ridiculous. It was facetiously nicknamed "The Archduke" and was the butt of much humour in Punch.