Huge Studio Portrait of an Officer, 19th Century British

Huge fine 19th century three quarter length portrait of an officer standing beside a column draped with a red curtain. We know by the uniform and accoutrements as worn by the sitter he was an officer serving in The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort’s Own). This portrait dates from the late years of the 19th Century and not later than 1903 when the Guelphic (or Hanoverian) crown ensigning the regimental badge was replaced with the King’s Crown. This identification is therefore made certain from the large regimental silver badge worn on this officer’s black patent leather cross-belt that is ensigned with the Guelphic (or Hanoverian) crown. Whether this officer was serving with the Regular Army or was a volunteer or militia officer is not known.

This masculine portrait is striking in quality, the huge scale, and the superb condition (having recently undergone a sensitive and professional light cleaning and lining process. The colour is beautiful, there is good clarity, the surface clean enabling the fine details to now be fully appreciated. The quality alludes to a talented studio portrait artist. These types of large scale portraits were popular during the late 19th and early 20th century and there were many artists working in this lucrative area for private commission but also public display such as town halls, etc. This very attractive portrait is an investment piece. Held in an excellent condition good quality frame.

As a regiment of the British Army, The Rifle Brigade came into being as the 95th Rifle Regiment from 1802 until 1816 when it was renamed The Rifle Brigade. On the 1st January 1966 it was amalgamated with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry and the King's Royal Rifle Corps to form the Royal Green Jackets. The Royal Green Jackets was further amalgamated, in 2007, with the Devonshire and Dorset Regiment, the Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and The Light Infantry to form the present large regiment, known as The Rifles.

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