Lot 23: Conway Weston Hart (British, fl.1849)

A drummer boy of the Light Company of an infantry regiment, circa. 1850
signed 'C. hart' (lower right)
oil on canvas
76.5 x 64 cm. (30 x 25 1/4 in.)

It is very rare to see such a detailed depiction of a drummer of this period but, in spite of a careful search of the drummers' lace patterns of the regular Line infantry, it has not been possible to reconcile any of these with the lace so carefully depicted on the coatee of this drummer. Furthermore, one would expect to see the regimental number below the bugle horn on the shako plate whereas only a bugle horn alone is depicted here. Finally the drum is strangely plain, rather than the decorated type one would expect. An ascription to a Militia Regiment is ruled out because other Militia ranks were apparently not issued with the Albert shako which was worn only by Militia officers, the men having to make do with the 'pork-pie' forage cap. Consequently, it is believed that the intention is to show the drummer of a Light Company of a Line infantry regiment.

We are grateful to Dixon Pickup for his help in cataloguing this work.