The officer in this study by Orlando Norie wears a 1857 pattern tunic, the second pattern after the radical change of uniform in 1855. The first pattern was double breasted and the skirt 14 inches long. The 1857 pattern was single breasted with skirts 10.5 inches long. But the 1855 change from the tailed coat with elaborate gold bullion epaulettes was basically a similar tunic. The collar and cuffs were yellow with gold lace and edged with white piping. The collar was round at the front and had badges of rank on either side. The crown and star embroidered badges, mainly in silver wire, denoted captain at this time. The yellow cuff had a yellow slash flap decorated with three gilt buttons and bastion shaped gold lace loops. This style of cuff was discontinued in 1868. The back of the skirts had a vent with vertical false pocket flaps.
The shako is dark blue with a front peak but no back peak as on the previous pattern. This shako was introduced in 1861, known as the quilted shako as it was basically cork, covered in blue cloth. It measured 4.5 inches high at the front and 7.75 inches at the back. It had a slim black leather chinstrap and was plain for other ranks and company officers, but for majors and lieutenant-colonels it had gold lace around the top. The white over red ball tuft on top was worn by all companies. Grenadier and Light companies were discontinued in 1862.
The trousers in this watercolour are ‘Oxford mixture’ worn in the winter months. From 1 May to 14 Oct officers wore dark blue trousers.In both cases the scarlet stripe down the side was a quarter of an inch wide.
The officer has a crimson silk sash of office on his left shoulder, held in place by a twisted crimson silk cord and small regimental button. Prior to 1855 the sash was worn around the waist. His sword is suspended from a white leather waist-belt with a round waist-belt clasp. The method of carrying the sword before 1855 was slung from a white leather shoulder-belt which had a rectangular belt-plate. The officer has medals for the Crimean War.
