For around fifteen years that ignored and restricted circle of great military illustrators has been enriched by a great new talent. Giuseppe Rava born in 1963 started early to design his own love, the soldier. Since then Rava has continually grown in stature and so much so that he has become one of the major interpreters of this art the world over. Rava took his interest for things military from his father, who sadly died at the age of 57. His father was a man interested in collecting military artefacts and rava handled the objects and got a feel for them at an early age. He continued his interest in military things and studies uniforms and arms before embarking on new projects.

He takes in all the lessons to be learnt from the greats of military paintings such as Detaille, Meissonier, De Neuville, Ruchling, Ottenfeld and others. These painters gave Rava the impulse to bravely go ahead and open his own studio. The incredible thing is that Rava has never taken even one lesson in painting and design, but has developed his great technique and style from constant observation of the great military painters. His colourful illustrative style could just be one of many styles similar to each other but lacking that little bit of “extra” to set it apart from other artists but in G. Rava’s work we can see the link with an artist such as Fattori and that artist’s military subjects. This captured the eyes of the great publishing houses in Italy and in Scandinavia.
It all began when little Giuseppe, decided to try his luck in an under 12 painting competition in Brisighella. He painted “The Nest Of Snakes” in pure Picasso style and shocked the organisers and judges. “How is this possible” screamed one of the judges, “we are here to see little houses with trees and animals in front painted by normal children not a nightmare like this!”. So much so for the people who call themselves judges but nevertheless G.Rava went ahead sure in his capability and after some brief university study he had already decided that he would be the master and teacher of his own future. After a brief time working at a Goldsmiths after a period of study for this trade he was noticed by EMI military publications and given the job of producing a book of Napoleonic soldiers. This was only his second brush as regards designing military subjects as his first had been creating the regimental coat of arms for his regimental H.Q. (Rava had spent his conscription in the 80’s fighting with the Carabinieri against that most dread of enemies the Football Hooligan. After various campaigns in various stadiums Rava hung up his truncheon for the paintbrush). After this work he spent a great deal of time doing nothing or not getting anything. He decided to take up some work that although not military was of a nature that it could help him as an artist. The work was with a graphic designers and Rava designed leaflets. But it was not long before a unique artist like Rava was sought out by a big publishing company. This particular one was specialising in religious book for protestants. They gave Rava the job of doing a book on David Livingstone freeing the slaves in Africa. As we all know slave women did not wear panties and bras and liked the natural look so when Rava a stickler for realism painted them nude (and being Italian could he have overdone a certain part of the anatomy?) the religious ones were not pleased. Called into the office of the chief he was told “the illustrations are superb but we cannot have bare breasts! Put bras on them!!” So if on your travels you find a copy of Rava’s “Livingstone and the Slave Women” the Playtex bras were not his idea!! Some kids books followed and it seemed that he was getting a name for himself as an illustrator but Rava wanted to be more than that. A local exhibition attracted the attention of a famous American action pop artist. “Rava, I want you to paint tanks, hundreds of em”! “what kind of tanks?” asked Rava. “The Tanks of Yom Kippur”. This was to be some kind of “found” concept art and Rava’s name would not even be on the paintings.

“I was very well paid and fed and I stayed in the finest hotel in New York but I’ve got to say that the artist did not sell many of his Yom Kippur tank battle paintings. Maybe it was because very few people had walls big enough such were their size”.

It was after his New York tank period that Rava sculpted a range of military miniatures under the TESTUDO name (25mm) and pieces for Pegaso (54mm) which are still available. Italeri, Hat and Games Workshop started to ask for box work to be done and straight away their fortune started to soar.
The magazine readers of the French publication “Vae Victis” have already experienced the fantastic cover work of Rava who is entirely able to express the articles inside. Over the years his continued research into what can make him a better artist has been fruitful. While many military artists choose a traditional or orthodox way Rava uses a technique entirely his; the skies are normally in watercolour but in the same picture Gouache is used for the informs. It sounds strange but it is a winner. Plastic soldier lovers know him and his art very well and love his superb box art. Starting from 2007 Giuseppe Rava become an illustrator for Osprey publishing, with more than 40 titles illustrated so far.