Kilted Soldier Print

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

I work in the downtown area of my city. Most days, I take a walk to our local grocery store and pick up my lunch. On my walk to the store, I pass a lovely little flea market that displays all sorts of knick knacks. In November, I noticed a set of pictures showing British soldiers in various uniforms. One of them was of a lovely looking chap in a kilt. I had other financial priorities (Christmas and vet bills) but I thought that if it was there in the new year I might treat myself. Well the new year came and went. I had to purchase a new computer, so both my fun money and kilt fund had been depleted. Though I did have my daily visit with my kilted friend to brighten my day, until today. I looked for him but he was not in his usual spot. My heart sank. So I went into the store to enquire about him. I found him just inside on the floor leaning against a bookshelf. The sales lady told me he was part of a set of six (the others were not kilted). Earlier that day a gentleman came in and bought three of the set. She offered me a really great deal because to set was now incomplete. I walked out with him under my arm.

Here he is:


(I will get better pictures tomorrow)


Now that my entertainment budget is now shot, I thought that I would turn him into a research project. The print is by Tom McNeely. If any forum member can help me with any information on the uniform my new friend might be wearing ( or steer me in the right direction) it would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Sara
Who is very happy .

[BoldHighlander]

Unless I find some info (as I search) I'll reserve judgement until you post a clearer picture (I need to see the tartan better).

The coat is of the style worn during the Seven Years War (1756 - 1763), the lace on it (from what I can tell) is of the sort worn by the 42nd HR until c.1760, as is the buff colored facings (changed to blue in 1758).
However its the tartan that is throwing me (at this period all companies of the 42nd wore Government sett with a red overstripe).

I have to go to work in a bit, but I'll keep digging.

**This style of regimental coat was also seen as early as 1749 too**

[ccga3359]

Gee Sara, are we a bad influence on you or what?

[BoldHighlander]

Here's a couple of links related to
Tom McNeely:

http://tommcneely.com/Tom_McNeely.html

http://www.unicover.com/JAAAAAJ2.htm

[Rogerson785]

What a fantastic print! You must be a lucky person like me.

[Highland Logan]

From what I understand the print is a dipection of a Highland solider from the 78th Fraser Highlanders during the Seven Years War.

Frank

[Sheep In Wolf's Clothing]

Gee Sara, are we a bad influence on you or what?

Ya think?

Thank you BoldHighlander, Highland Logan, and MacMillan of Rathdown
for the info. I have been doing a little more poking around on the artist end. My sister has a rather large Marilyn Monroe collection, and I think she may have a copy of his portrait of her. Small world.
I am going to have it reframed. When I do, I am going to attach a history of the artist and a little about the subject on the back of the frame. The websites will be a great resource, thanks again.
Sara
Who will stop by her town's library tomorrow to dig some more on her way to lunch, instead of gawking in the flea market window!

[BoldHighlander]

Ya think?

Thank you BoldHighlander, Highland Logan, and MacMillan of Rathdown
for the info. I have been doing a little more poking around on the artist end. My sister has a rather large Marilyn Monroe collection, and I think she may have a copy of his portrait of her. Small world.
I am going to have it reframed. When I do, I am going to attach a history of the artist and a little about the subject on the back of the frame. The websites will be a great resource, thanks again.
Sara
Who will stop by her town's library tomorrow to dig some more on her way to lunch, instead of gawking in the flea market window!

Very cool Sara!

And be sure to post another picture of your soldier so we can see him better!

[Highland Logan]

Yes, I kept going back to my books on the Highlanders of this period (including the excellent two part series "Sons of the Mountains" by Ian Macpherson McCulloch) and while I'd agree that every thing else about the uniform is correct, that the lace upon the regimental coat looks wrong, if the lace is in fact not rectangular (as the 78th wore).
It could be a distortion of the photo but I'd almost swear it looks pointed on the end, like that of the 42nd & 77th of the period. However I could be wrong, and will wait for a better quality picture.

Here is a link with some photos on the 78th Frasers. I agree that the photo may not pass muster on the "real" 78th, but artists sometimes add flair to their work, as I have added below.

That really is an excellent print. It is reminiscent of the Dewars White Label prints done by Schenley's in the late 1930s and early 40s as a promotional item. These prints depicted officers from various regiments of HM's forces in full or walking out dress. There were five sets of prints, each depicting six different regiments. In 1942 you could have ordered all five sets for the princely sum of $1.25! And that included postage. I hope you have a nice place to hang you highlander.

We have had similar prints done in Canada for our Highland regts, and they are as fanciful as the McIan prints, and just as accurate.



"In the 1950s, the Hiram Walker & Sons Distillery in Ontario produced a series of colour plates depicting officers of Canadian Highland Regiments. The prints are today collector's items, and are notable in some cases for being more fanciful than truthful. The print depicting an officer of The Calgary Highlanders, however, does give an interpretation of what the most advanced state of Ceremonial Dress for the Regiment would be if it decided to make such uniforms a priority. The scarlet jacket (or "redcoat") was the standard field dress of the British Army from the late 1600s to the early days of the 20th Century, and continues to be the idealized ceremonial dress uniform of Commonwealth infantry regiments (excepting Rifle Regiments). Many items depicted in the Hiram Walker prints are actually worn today by officers, including the sword ("claymore"), kilt, badger head sporran, red/white hose, sword belt, officers' shoulder sash, tartan plaid, and brooch. Scarlet jackets and feather bonnets, however, are only worn by drummers of The Calgary Highlanders, and the fullest expression of ceremonial dress has never been achieved. The reintroduction of distinctive Service Dress uniforms (the Distinctive Environment Uniform, or DEU) in the late 1980s has provided the Canadian Forces with a distinctive "Army" uniform that is both practical and economical, while still allowing the major components of "Highland Dress" to be worn with pride." - From the Calgary Highlander website


Frank

[Woodsheal]

I've seen it before. It's supposed to depict an officer of the 78th Reg't (Fraser's) wearing the debated "brownish" tartan. The diced bonnet is incorrect for the 1750's, but otherwise it's a decent rendering of a highland officer of the French & Indian War period....