A military  portrait miniature in watercolour on ivory. Circa 1812. The sitter, Lieutenant Terence Fitz Gerald wearing his dark blue, 11th Light Dragoon regimental tunic. The tunic is in the style of a Hussar dolman, with buff collar, silver-coloured buttons, silver-white lace and dark blue stock. It does not have shoulder chains.

The watercolour is sympathetic to the sitter's features and uniform materials; by way of example, the skin appears translucent, the dark blue tunic, heavy and 'wool-like,' the buttons, 'silvered.'

The military portrait miniature is housed in a gold metal frame, with an inner, oval-shaped gold surround, transluscent blue-coloured, enamel outer edge, and a gold metal border. The reverse to the portrait miniature details  cross-hatched hair with gold-coloured, 'TFG' initials in cursive style. A  loop and ring positioned to the outer, top edge, enabling the portrait miniature to be suspended from a ribbon around the neck. An engraved dedication to the gold-coloured border reads:

'Terence Fitz Gerald Born 1773. Died 1826.'

Notes:

Dedication & Hallmark:The dedication is beautifully hand-cut into the gold metal border. The frame to the portrait miniature is not hallmarked, however since it does not reveal any base metal, it may possibly be made from the element, 'gold.'  

Lieutenant Terrnace Fitz Gerald purchased his lieutenancy to the 83rd Regiment Foot on 26th September 1799. In 1804. or thereabouts, he transfered to the 33rd Regiment of Foot. This portrait miniature was commissioned following his transfer from the 33rd, to the 11th Light Dragoons. The Duke of Wellington's also transfered to various units, including the 33rd, and a Light dragoon unit .

Light Dragoons: The Light dragoons have always been distinctive. They were first raised in the middle of the Eighteenth Century for reconnaissance and patrolling, but soon acquired a reputation for courage and dash in the field.  Light cavalry regiments distinguished themselves under the  1st Duke of Wellington in the Iberian peninsula: three were present at the Battle of Waterloo. From 1783 when the regiment changed from heavy to light cavalry - a significant reduction in size to both horse and mount, the 11th Light Dragoons, wore their red coats cut short.  In 1784, the red coats were replaced with the dark blue tunic.

Size: Painting 4.5cm x 3.5cm, overall size with frame is 6cm x 5cm.