This monochrome portrait of an unidentified officer of the Bengal Light Cavalry shows the dress uniform worn in the late 1830s and early 40s. The style of the silver lace across the chest is wavy, and the outer rows of silver buttons curve in towards the shoulders. The French grey jacket is tight fitting, with a high Prussian collar, designed to encourage the officer to hold himself upright. Silver braid decorated the sleeves, collar and back seams as well as under the arms. There are slim silver shoulder cords and a small button on each side of the collar. The later version of the dress jacket is worn by Captain Hailes in the 1850 miniature portrait.
The shoulder-belt is overlaid with silver herringbone pattern lace, having a silk orange central stripe to match the collar and cuffs. The chain and pickers are of hallmarked silver. Around his waist is a girdle of triple gold lace with crimson stripes between. This was replaced by a gold and crimson barrel sash in the late 1840s. The trousers are dark blue with a double silver lace stripe on each side. The shako is bell-shaped with a broad silver lace around the top of oak-leaf pattern. The badge follows the pattern adopted by the regiments of the BLC c1835. An example can be seen on the 3rd BLC page. The festoon on the peak is plaited gold cord, as part of the gold cap-lines. The shako is topped with a tall white plume of cock feathers.
