HOME | DD

ColonelDespard — Enjolras: 'Shoot me.'

Published: 2011-03-16 07:47:10 +0000 UTC; Views: 4624; Favourites: 94; Downloads: 703
Redirect to original
Description Er...yes, I still exist.

Am working on five things, all crap. But this is the closest to viable, so I'm uploading it to PROVE that I'm still alive.

Enjolras. Last moments before Grantaire arrives.

"Shoot me."

************

At length, by dint of mounting on each other's backs, aiding themselves with the skeleton of the staircase, climbing up the walls, clinging to the ceiling, slashing away at the very brink of the trap-door, the last one who offered resistance, a score of assailants, soldiers, National Guardsmen, municipal guardsmen, in utter confusion, the majority disfigured by wounds in the face during that redoubtable ascent, blinded by blood, furious, rendered savage, made an irruption into the apartment on the first floor. There they found only one man still on his feet, Enjolras. Without cartridges, without sword, he had nothing in his hand now but the barrel of his gun whose stock he had broken over the head of those who were entering. He had placed the billiard table between his assailants and himself; he had retreated into the corner of the room, and there, with haughty eye, and head borne high, with this stump of a weapon in his hand, he was still so alarming as to speedily create an empty space around him. A cry arose:

"He is the leader! It was he who slew the artillery-man. It is well that he has placed himself there. Let him remain there. Let us shoot him down on the spot."

"Shoot me," said Enjolras.

And flinging away his bit of gun-barrel, and folding his arms, he offered his breast.
Related content
Comments: 43

heart-full-of-love [2013-07-22 21:57:36 +0000 UTC]

This is probably the billionth time I've commented on this picture, but I just love it to death. One of my favorite renderings of Enjolras ever, and that's saying alot.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Annathelle26 [2013-03-16 13:19:02 +0000 UTC]

Ah, a remake!! It looks terrific in color as well.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

BlackSteelSeishirou [2013-03-12 03:18:28 +0000 UTC]

This is so amazing
So
Amazing

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

heart-full-of-love [2012-10-01 16:16:47 +0000 UTC]

Sob sob sob WHY!?!??!?!?!? Lol, I love this guy. I made the bad decission to read this part under my desk in math class. I started sobbing in class and my teacher is like, "Do you hate geometry that much?"

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

SimaraMorgana [2012-02-09 16:19:42 +0000 UTC]

When i read the szene in the book i was like "Noooo, you can't be serious! You can't- Stop that, Enjolras, come back. Hide." Then Grantaire arives and i had no strengh left to tell him how stupid he is to get himself shot. I love them both that deebly, i realy was mad when they died. But at least, it was a heartbreakingly good scene. And your picture captures the moment perfektly. Very beutyful!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

TCRegan [2011-11-25 09:06:45 +0000 UTC]

So I found this by clicking your link from the forum. And now I will spend the next several hours squeeing over your brilliant artwork. This one caught my eye first. I've read the scene, though I'm not quite there yet in the story, and this is beautiful. Expect more comments as I browse!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to TCRegan [2011-11-27 03:44:26 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! This is one that really needs to be corrected a bit - I've aged him too much. But I'm relatively new to digital art, and am still learning (over use of soft brushes here much?). I very much appreciate the comments and feedback!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

imwithyanaandimbored [2011-08-25 03:26:13 +0000 UTC]

I'm finding it a little strange that you're not completely happy with this since it's definitely one of my favourites out of yours. (And yes, my comments are almost always terribly belated, sometimes I would get in a mood and comment by the bucketful and other times I'd skip it entirely <.< >.>) I actually love the fact that he looks so very manly in this. It is, after all, a battle. No need to mention the hair again. This is my favourite hairstyle for him out of the ones you do, I think it gives him a little boyishness. And I can imagine the summer morning to his right. Lovely work.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to imwithyanaandimbored [2011-08-29 00:38:40 +0000 UTC]

Many thanks for your comments I'm so pleased you like it! Looking at it from a distance of a few months, I think my problem is that I did age him too much...probably trying to get the 'high forehead' in. I also think perhaps there's too much weariness there? Which doesn't quite work with Hugo's description of him seeming untouched by the previous two days fighting (except for the blood etc on him). Now that I've got a bit of distance, I may try to rework it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

xXMaybellXx [2011-05-28 02:02:14 +0000 UTC]

Oh. My. God. AMAZING. *Runs to Enjy's side and hugs him*

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

psychyginger [2011-05-03 12:10:02 +0000 UTC]

please say strip me instead! ~drooling~

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Sierraness23 [2011-05-01 03:13:34 +0000 UTC]

Oh my goodness. This, my dear, is gorgeous. Unbelievably beautiful. This has got to be one of my favorites of what you've done. No idea why I love it so much, but then again, what have you done that I haven't absolutely loved?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to Sierraness23 [2011-05-02 04:36:29 +0000 UTC]

Oh, thank you! I had major reservations about this after I posted it...now that I've left it alone for a couple of weeks I may return to try and de-age it a bit.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

groch3 [2011-03-20 23:47:52 +0000 UTC]

The picture left me so speechless, that it took me a couple of days (during which I downloaded it and made a few copies, including one on my cell phone What I like most is how you vere able to connect Enjolras' canon "angelic" type of beauty and young looks with him being - how to call it - virile? At the moment of his death, you can see his real age, with how the years weren't as easy on him as one would think. This is simply perfect on your picture. Not the over-feminine and too-beautiful-to-be-realistic Enjolras many people tend to draw. Excellent.

(just a wishful thinking, but I would like you to draw one day the Le Cabuc incident, another powerful Enjolras' moment... funny that I don't recall any fanarts for this scene, do you?...)

Much was said about the eyes, and their expression: it's captivating, and I cannot look enough on the shade of blue. My first impression on the lips was that they are chapped and somehow I found it adding to the realism.

~Elwen~

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to groch3 [2011-03-22 03:18:24 +0000 UTC]

Thank you I'm a bit concerned about the age thing, to be honest - partly by the way I've done his eyes (I didn't want him too wide-eyed, but I think they're aging) and by trying for a high forehead that in this instance seems to add years, particularly the faint furrow. I might try to take a few years off if I ever rework it.

I will do the Le Cabuc incident one day - I've just got to convince a couple of friends to model for it so I can get the stances right!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

MmeFeuilly [2011-03-20 17:54:45 +0000 UTC]

I can't say anything that hasn't been said already, but I love this entirely.
He looks like he is daring them, but he doesn't really care if he dies or not (not that he doesn't care, but that he is tired, you know?).

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to MmeFeuilly [2011-03-22 03:16:39 +0000 UTC]

Thank you - I'm not entirely happy with the balance in this, as I was divided between Hugo's rather busy description of that scene (there's an awful lot going on in Enjolras' expression and stance) and the conflict between the weariness of someone who has just fought for days and finished with a climactic struggle and Hugo telling us he looks untouched. It's a bit hard to find middle ground, and I don't think I succeeded.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

MmeFeuilly [2011-03-20 17:54:45 +0000 UTC]

I can't say anything that hasn't been said already, but I love this entirely.
He looks like he is daring them, but he doesn't really care if he dies or not (not that he doesn't care, but that he is tired, you know?).

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Meg-Giry [2011-03-18 12:32:18 +0000 UTC]

I love it. I think it just great how decided he looks.
If we two should ever meet, I'll show you "my" Mussin, where I always set this scene.
manny hugs

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to Meg-Giry [2011-03-22 03:15:06 +0000 UTC]

I'd love to see it! A particular Parisian cafe, is it?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Meg-Giry In reply to ColonelDespard [2011-03-22 08:07:24 +0000 UTC]

Yes. One cafe, that touched me deep when I saw it first time.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

la-rose-anglaise [2011-03-16 23:03:18 +0000 UTC]

He looks like some actor and I can't, for the life of me, figure out who.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to la-rose-anglaise [2011-03-22 03:14:44 +0000 UTC]

Um...thanks?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

la-rose-anglaise In reply to ColonelDespard [2011-03-22 03:25:59 +0000 UTC]

Aye, don't get me wrong, in a very good way.

I also like the blue. You don't see much of Enjolras-In-Blue (we have the musical to thank for this, I think, Enjolras-in-Rouge). Of course, you combine blue waistcoat with white shirtsleeves and red blood and get symbolism! (not sure if you did that on purpose, let's say you did )

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

xXMoonOwlXx [2011-03-16 21:08:30 +0000 UTC]

LOVING THE EXPRESSION.

Great work!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to xXMoonOwlXx [2011-03-22 03:14:34 +0000 UTC]

Thank you! I'm not entirely convinced by it myself, but may be able to save it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Miss-Pixie-Duchess [2011-03-16 20:51:35 +0000 UTC]

TT.TT

Despard I missed you and your lovely art!!!! Enjolras is looking heroic and wonderful as usual!!! Loving the digital color here!!!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to Miss-Pixie-Duchess [2011-03-22 03:14:15 +0000 UTC]

Cheers I'll try to scribble more - or at least finish things I start...

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

Miss-Pixie-Duchess In reply to ColonelDespard [2011-03-23 01:10:42 +0000 UTC]

Yaa~y!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

DarthFar [2011-03-16 17:30:23 +0000 UTC]

I love how you've taken your original drawing and kicked it up several notches, both with the utilisation of vivid colour and with the little departures from the original that reflect Enjolras' years of development by your hand (the inclusion of a shirt collar, and that untamed mane, the change of expression). It's like he's just standing there, almost daring the National Guard to take him down.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to DarthFar [2011-03-22 03:13:42 +0000 UTC]

Blood! Yes, I do like the blood! I wish there could be more defiance, though. I probably should have started from scratch rather than do a paint-over.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Starlene [2011-03-16 15:46:21 +0000 UTC]

What original can I add to the previous comments anymore? I'm afraid they've already said all I wanted to say - I just wanted to leave a comment myself too to let you know I think this is really beautiful.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to Starlene [2011-03-22 03:13:07 +0000 UTC]

You're very kind, thank you!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

EntirelyInsane [2011-03-16 13:02:35 +0000 UTC]

WHOAAA. Saw this and did a double take.
Well, it's absolutely beautiful. Your Enjolras is beautifully intense, as always. His eyes, and the hair (and the blood) are magnificently drawn. And, um, his expression as well.
Different from the sketch of this you did of the same scene however long ago, or did you use the sketch as a base?

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to EntirelyInsane [2011-03-22 03:12:56 +0000 UTC]

Thank you...as you know, I have strong reservations about this one But I may be able to save it. I did work it up from the sketch I did ages ago, and that might be part of the problem...I focused too much on his expression and not enough on his stance, which was actually more a problem as the dropped hip is too casual.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

EntirelyInsane In reply to ColonelDespard [2011-03-22 12:51:16 +0000 UTC]

Or maybe the dropped hip shows exhaustion. He wouldn't be ramrod-straight after hours of fighting, would he?
And besides, I think it's important to have experimental art. It's exploration. It's good. Save it.

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

Spirit-Lily [2011-03-16 12:14:04 +0000 UTC]

They looked at that perfect face and hair and they shot him? They have no hearts.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to Spirit-Lily [2011-03-22 03:11:54 +0000 UTC]

I wouldn't have wanted to muss the hair either

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

collectingbees [2011-03-16 08:15:42 +0000 UTC]

Stunningly beautiful, captivating and haunting, as always.

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to collectingbees [2011-03-22 03:11:39 +0000 UTC]

Cheers, my darling!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

collectingbees In reply to ColonelDespard [2011-03-22 06:25:42 +0000 UTC]

!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0

standingalive [2011-03-16 08:14:49 +0000 UTC]

I detect a lot of calm, a little weariness (hey, he's been in battle for so long) but still quite a bit of majesty. Well done!

👍: 0 ⏩: 1

ColonelDespard In reply to standingalive [2011-03-22 03:11:30 +0000 UTC]

Thank you Could do with a helluva lot more majesty, though!

👍: 0 ⏩: 0