John Thompson

This ¾-length portrait shows a handsome young Dragoons Officer in a scarlet coat with gold epaulettes seated with his sword to hand, his shako on the table next to him decorated with white cock’s feathers.

An inscription on the backing paper names the officer as ‘John Thompson / Born 15 of 1 Mo 1781 / This likeness taken 18’. Despite knowing these details, it has not been possible to verify his family details. A John Thompson was born in York on 15 January 1781 to John and Margaret (née Routh) but research shows he became a hosiery manufacturer by trade so is unlikely to be our sitter.

Painted on ivory and retaining its fresh colours, the portrait resides in a period bird’s eye maple veneer frame with a gilt slip.

Ivory Exemption Ref.: LP1661HZ