Officer, Levee Dress 1797


The officer in this portrait is unnamed and the artist unknown. It shows the light dragoon uniform in a transitional stage between the late 18th century and the early 19th. The blue jacket is the under jacket that was previously worn with the half-opened coat, or shell. The under jacket had not previously been worn without the shell, and had nothing on the shoulders. The epaulettes, worn on the shell, have now been discontinued and replaced by chain-link shoulder protectors worn on the jacket. The high yellow collar is fairly plain, indicating his junior rank, but the cuffs now show signs of developing some silver braid decoration.

The silver braid across the chest is framed with a line of braid or lace. The three rows of buttons extend from top to bottom at the termination of the cross braiding. The lower buttons are concealed beneath a wide crimson waist-sash. The hem of the jacket extends a few inches below the sash. His sword is suspended from a belt worn beneath the jacket. This is not obvious in this portrait, but a similar portrait of another officer painted around the same time clearly shows the sword slings coming from under the jacket. There is a white sword knot on the hilt that has a gold tassel.

The white belt on his left shoulder is a pouch-belt, the first time that the cavalry distinction has been worn this way, initiating at least two centuries of cavalry tradition. the silver belt-plate has a simple design of the Prince of Wales Feathers also in silver. The close-fitting breeches are dark blue and decorated with silver lace and braid, setting the trend for levee dress in the 19th century. The Tarleton helmet was soon to disappear as a light dragoon headdress; it did not survive for long into the 19th century. This officer wears the white over red plume and leopardskin turban.


Regimental Details | Uniforms


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by Stephen Luscombe