Redcoat Images, No. 3,045

“Which painting in the National Gallery would I save if there was a fire? The one nearest the door of course.” – George Bernard Shaw

Unknown Officer, 17th Regiment of Light Dragoons, circa 1777-82 Artist: Charles Willson Peale Sold by Earle D. Vandekar of Knightsbridge, Inc., 1994 (Photograph Courtesy of a Clipping by Timothy Terrell)

This is a rare miniature painting of a redcoat officer in the 17th attributed to painter Charles Wilson Peale of Philadelphia. It is believed to be one of the only pieces in existence showing an officer if the 17th during the war and is a rare find. Armchair historians interested in the 17th have Timothy Terrell to thank for this surviving clipping of Earle D. Vandekar of Knightsbridge, Inc. advertisement in the November 1994 issue of Antiques magazine.

The most interesting thing about this painting is that it was painted by Charles Wilson Peale.

He had spent the 1750s and 1760s traveling abroad and studying under great painters such as John Hesselius and John Singleton Copley and even Benjamin West. In 1775 Peale moved from his native Maryland to Philadelphia, where he set up a painting studio.

And also joined the Sons of Liberty and eventually the Pennsylvania Militia. As an ardent Patriot.

While with the army Peale was known for painting miniatures like these of officers in the Continental line.

The British Army, including the 17th, occupied Philadelphia after the defeat of Washington at Brandywine. They stayed there from September of ‘77 through June of ‘78, during the time Washington was encamped at Valley Forge.

It is not known when exactly or why Peale agreed to paint this British officer though the dating of the painting suggests it was during the Philadelphia occupation. We are left to wonder how the two came to contact and what circumstances would lead an ardent patriot who painted some of the most famous portraits of men like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and the like to paint a portrait for a young officer in the King’s Death or Glory Boys. But we are sure glad he did, and we’re thankful to Timothy Terrel for saving that magazine clipping to share it with the world nearly thirty years ago