It is uncommon for sitters’ hands to be shown on portrait miniatures – indeed few miniaturists could paint them naturalistically – and even more uncommon to see the hilt of a sword. Standing in a relaxed pose, this young officer rests his arm on the basket hilt of his sword, the style of which has been expertly identified as a Scottish sword. A classical stone column and shrubbery add depth to the composition.The portrait is characteristic of Scouler’s precise draughtsmanship and his ability to capture the essence of a large-scale oil portrait in a miniature. It is set in the original gold bracelet style frame with a later brooch pin.The son of a Scottish organ-builder, James Scouler showed artistic talent from an early age. During the 1750s the family relocated to London where Scouler was able to study drawing and classical sculpture – stone pillars are a regular motif in his work. He was 71 when he died at his home in Bloomsbury in 1812. Scouler’s finest work, of which this i...