19th Century Portrait of a British Cavalry Officer

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Oh, to look this dashing when atop a mount. On offer is a portrait of an officer or orderly from … Read more Oh, to look this dashing when atop a mount. On offer is a portrait of an officer or orderly from a British cavalry regiment, perhaps commissioned for the rider’s sweetheart or family. Judging by similar works with matching pennants and uniforms in London’s National Army Museum, the rider was likely an orderly or an officer of the 16th Dragoon Guards (The Queen's Lancers), prominent during the Napoleonic Wars and throughout the 19th century.
The rider is depicted in a scarlet tunic with gold facings, standard for many British heavy and light cavalry regiments of the time. And while the uniform, boots, sword and steed are striking, it’s the headgear that commands attention. It begins with the czapka or lance cap, and what’s flowing out from behind is a black horsehair plume. While British Lancer officers typically wore plumes made of feathers (often swan or ostrich) for high-level ceremonial events like parades or levees, they were required by dress regulations to use horsehair plumes for standard full dress and field exercises. The 16th (The Queen’s Lancers) specifically used black plumes. Black horsehair was standard for "other ranks" and for officers in general service. For comparison, other regiments like the 12th Lancers used scarlet. The plume itself is held by a gold bullion plume boss, which often featured the reigning monarch's cypher such as "VR" for Queen Victoria.
Lastly, the rider is carrying a lance with red and white pennant, which was characteristic of Lancer regiments like the 16th.
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