From 1836 the red jackets of the rank and file had plain white lace across the chest instead of the regimental pattern lace worn for many years. The 79th had the button-hole loops in pairs and this was repeated on the red slash flap on the cuffs. This painting shows the shoulder wings clearly so that we can see that the straps are in the facing colour, green, edged in white, while the wings are red with white stripes and thick padded edges, at one time only worn by the flank companies but now worn by all companies.
The points of interest are the rectangular brass belt plate on the shoulder-belt supporting the bayonet, and the sporran, both of which differ from the portrait of Private Ritchie painted by Dubois Drahonet in 1833. The cantle of the sporran is brass, marked, like the belt-plate, with LXXIX. The hair of the purse is dark which fails to show up the five black tassels. The hose are also different from those worn by Private Ritchie, being knitted in black and red and having a complicated red bow on the sides.
The subject of the painting is Private Abram Bell and it was said to be painted while the regiment was stationed in Dublin from 1838 to 1839. The regiment then spent several months in the north of England before being posted to Gibraltar in January 1841.
