Historical Minds Needed! Uniform Identification

**figheadair** · 7th June 23, 10:44 PM

Any more details about the portrait? The jacket looks like a cavalry one.

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**Tobus** · 8th June 23, 04:00 AM

I'm of no use for identifying any of it, but I do find the headdress details interesting. It looks like red/white/green around the headband, and it's not really dicing where the colours alternate differently on each row. They're in columns. I wonder if this might yield more historical references than the jacket, if it's uniquely identifying.

**whmackie** · 8th June 23, 06:39 AM

I have no additional information - i picked it up at a local auction. The frame is terrible and not original.

My guess from looking at the back is that it is mid - late 19th century.

**figheadair** · 8th June 23, 08:01 AM

Originally Posted by Tobus

I'm of no use for identifying any of it, but I do find the headdress details interesting. It looks like red/white/green around the headband, and it's not really dicing where the colours alternate differently on each row. They're in columns. I wonder if this might yield more historical references than the jacket, if it's uniquely identifying.

And the timeframe. This looks to be Napoleonic era.

**Tobus** · 8th June 23, 08:10 AM

Were it me, I'd be taking it out of the frame to see if there is any additional info hidden, like the artist's name, a date, or anything else.

**whmackie** · 10th June 23, 07:58 AM

I took the portrait out if the frame - no signature / date / other identifying markings.

The piece is oil on canvas - looks like it has a later board backing used to strengthen the piece and to make quick touch ups - where the canvas has been torn / damaged you can see where it has simply filled in and roughly painted over.

Looks like I will have to rely on the uniform for any additional information. I appreciate all the help.

**stickman** · 11th June 23, 07:20 AM

I have been looking through a book on Wellingtons highlanders and see no bonnet banding like that shown in your picture. What I see is vertical red and white stripes with horizontal stripe that is green where it crosses the red stripe. This gives a green square in the middle of the red stripe. It is possible that the artist used some artistic license. I do not see any cross belt badge like that shown either. I have read somewhere that artistic license was quite a common practice during the Napoleonic war, especially by non British artists. I am by no means an expert on this so take my answer with a grain of salt.