Lot 23 , Early 19th century English School , Portrait of a black bandsman in uniform wearing the Waterloo medal and holding a cymbal, oil on canvas, 74 x 62cm

Early 19th century English School
Portrait of a black bandsman in uniform wearing the Waterloo medal and holding a cymbal
oil on canvas
The depiction of Black British soldiers serving in the Napoleonic Wars is scarce. Black soldiers were a component of the British army for a very long time and there is evidence to suggest that Black Bandsmen were an element of a number of regiments.
Individual Black soldiers are known to have taken part in many of the Napoleonic war campaigns, including the Battle of Toulouse, the Peninsular War, Quatre Bra, and the final battle to defeat the French Emperor Napoleon at Waterloo in June 1815.
The BBC history programme, A Black History of Britain highlighted the often forgotten role of black soldiers during the Napoleonic period and featured the discharge papers of George Rose, a Jamaican who enlisted as a Private in the 73rd Foot in August 1809. Rose was eventually promoted to sergeant in 1831 making him the most senior black soldier in the British Army at the time. At The National Archives they also have the discharge papers of William Affleck who was born on the island of St Kitts and enlisted in the British Army in 1801 in Hounslow. He spent almost all his army career as a trumpeter before being discharged in 1819 on the grounds of poor health.
Both before and after the Battle of Waterloo, amongst other regiments, black individuals were to be found in the 13th light dragoons, the 10th Hussars and the 88th Foot.
74 x 62cm
£3,000-5,000

Condition:
Oil on canvas relined twenty to thirty years ago or so. Paint now rather dirty with bituminus bubbling, notably in his hair and the bottom right corner. A fine stable craquelure throughout most of the paint. Slight stretcher marks showing. Small traces of a shiny varnish especially at the top left margin. Unremarkable modern gilt frame. Comes for sale from a local private collection. Inherited from the vendors father, nothing further known. See a very similar but slightly cruder version of this work sold by Christie's in 1972 as American School, circa 1820 - as probably from the 88th Regiment. *PLEASE NOTE - POSTAGE AND OR PACKING NOT AVAILABLE ON ANY PICTURE LOTS IN TODAYS SALE, COLLECTION OR COURIER RECOMMENDED*

Sold for £30,000