John Nost Sartorius (British 1755-1828)
A bay military horse or charger, caparisoned with a military-style sheepskin, shabraque and headband, possibly Russian, a military encampment beyond

signed and dated "Sartorius 179 3(?)" right of the horse
oil on canvas

23 x 29 cm

Provenance: Wood Dalling Hall, Norfolk

This is a portrait of a charger (possibly an officer's charger) of the pre-Waterloo era. The 'blanket' the horse is wearing is known as a shabraque and the black piece over the pommel is known as a sheepskin. In the British Army of the period, the shabraque's colour usually matched that of the regiment's facing colour. So, for example, the 1st Life Guards' tunics were red, but their facing colour was blue - as were their shabraques. This is not, however, a universal rule. In the British cavalry of the period, only The Blues and the 10th Light Dragoons (later Hussars) had officers' shabraques that were any colour other than blue (both had red shabraques) and the Kettledrummer of the 2nd Life Guards whose shabraque was white. From the mid-18th century onwards, all British Army (cavalry, infantry, artillery and support arms) officers' shabraques were edged with gold lace.

We are grateful to Christopher Joll for his assistance with the catalogue entry.

Condition Report

Oil on canvas which has been lined. An old tear at the top of the canvas has been repaired. Retouchings are fairly well matched to the original. The varnish has yellowed and is dirty. There is wear to the gilding on the frame.