NAM.1989-03-72-1

An unidentified officer, probably of the 14th Madras Native Infantry, 1809. Miniature portrait in watercolour on ivory, signed lower left 'J.S.J./ 1809/ I', by John Smart, junior (1776-1809), 1809. The sitter in this bust-length portrait wears uniform with black facings, buttons set in threes and a silver epaulette. In a gold frame with lock of hair verso, bound with half pearl band and gold thread. John Smart junior signed his work ‘J.S.J’ to distinguish himself from his father, who was also a celebrated miniaturist. Their miniatures were often exhibited alongside each other at the Royal Academy of Arts. This portrait appears to be the only known example of the artist using his father’s convention of including an ‘I’ after his initials to denote that it was from taken in India. It is one of the last miniatures produced by the younger Smart.