Bandsman 1857

The musician holds a bassoon and has a music stand supporting the score of Il Trovatore. In another print in this series of the Grenadier Guards Bandmaster, the music is La Traviata so it would seem that the artist, W Sharpe, likes Verdi. The tunic is less ornate than the bandmaster's but has gold lace across the chest, and blue and gold fringed wings on the shoulders. What is striking is the lack of a waist-belt. His special pattern band sword must be supported by a waist-belt worn beneath the tunic. The hilt emerges through the skirt where a leather frog is attached. The back of the tunic has two brass buttons at the waist and gold laced vertical pocket flaps. The bearskin shows the left side so we cannot see his red plume on the right. The trousers have a thin red stripe down the outer seam.

Regimental details | Regimental Band