M A Hayes’ painting of the 79th, although unfortunately in monochrome here, gives valuable details on the uniform. The two officers are in review order; the one with his back to us is a battalion company officer with gold epaulettes on his scarlet jacket, the other is a Light Company officer with gold wings. The officer’s sporran is painted with care as this is a recently introduced pattern that remained almost unaltered until the end of full dress. It has an all-gilt cantle, grey goat hair and six bullion tassels suspended on gold cords formed into loops. Prior to this the dress sporran was as can be seen in the Spooner print of an Officer 1833.
Hayes has taken care also to paint the dirks which are suspended on the right side from a black waist-belt. The broadswords are kept in scabbards attached to white slings suspended from rings on the white leather shoulder belt. Both officers wear crimson sashes on their left shoulders and the back view of the officer gives us a clearer idea of the plaid on the right shoulder, the other end of which is caught up on the waist. The small coat-tails are well decorated with gold laced pocket flaps and edging of the white turn-backs. The checked hose have skean dhus tucked into the right side, and the red ribbons are formed into neat bows.
The black feather bonnets are shown to good effect, with the Light Company green hackle having the regimental badge at its base just above the red white and green diced head-band. The black ribbons at the back of the headdress are tied in a bow.
