Soldati della Repubblica constitutes my second major military portrait project. Following on from Soldiery British Army Portraits, my aim to capture the modern face, tradition and history of the Esercito Italiano.

The 8th Cavalry Lancieri di Montebello where the subjects of my first series of sittings, taking place on 22nd March 2018, at their barracks just outside of Rome.

The Regiment has enjoyed a rich history, it is the only Italian cavalry to have its origin and name from a battle, fought on May 20th 1859, near the village of Montebello (in northern Italy), when during the 2nd War of Independence, a Cavalry Brigade took a crucial victory that lead towards the unification of Italy. 

In the Second World War, while fighting the battles of September 1943, during the complete collapse of the Italian political-military governance, the Regiment sacrificed more than half of its men, earning itself the distinction of the Medaglia d’Argento al Valor Militare allo Stendardo (The Silver Medal for Military Valor).

Today, the “Lancieri di Montebello”, besides carrying out an intense and constant operational activity in Italy (Operation “Safe streets”) and abroad (Lebanon, Kosovo and Iraq) with the “Reece Battalion”, it also performs daily tasks of High Historical Representation of State Ceremonials and operational with the “Horse mounted Battalion”, through its components, Ceremonial Squadron (dismounted) and Horse mounted Squadron with a Horse mounted Band. 

The Horse mounted Squadron which I captured at the regiments equestrian centre, are a unique branch of the Italian Army, where men and women wear the Historic Uniform (first introduced in 1884) equipped with a lance of ash wood (introduced 1866) for main armament, which the Italian Cavalry squadrons utilised battle.

Not since my sittings with The Household Cavalry in London have I captured such an eclectic mixture of ceremonial and modern military uniforms. Each encompassing the history of the regiment and its unique tradition.

Rory Lewis is seeking funding to help exhibit the project in 2020 in Rome.