Dressed to Kill, Dressed to Till
ARTHUR WILLIAM DEVIS, RA (1762-1822), Attributed. An Officer of the Light Horse Volunteers of London and Westminster, c. 1805. Oil on canvas, 31-1/2 x 25 inches, within a fine, early 19th century, gilt composition frame. Born in London, the 19th child of artist Arthur Devis followed his father’s career path. He came to the notice of Sir Joshua Reynolds at the Free Society of Artists and the Royal Academy. He is noted for his involvement in the creation of the posthumous cult of Horatio Nelson. As the flagship VICTORY returned from Trafalgar, Devis went out to meet her and was during the shipboard autopsy of Nelson. With the help of sketches that he took at that time, Devis painted a heroic Death of Nelson, which proved a sensation and from which a popular print was published. This fine portrait dates from the same period as his portraits of Lord Nelson and depicts a member of the elite volunteer cavalry unit, the Light Horse Volunteers of London and Westminster, which was composed of the wealthiest young members of London society. When a new member joined the corps, he was given the honor of a court introduction to King George III, a distinction afforded to no other military unit. The sitter is depicted not only with his saber at side, but also with one of the unit’s pattern horse pistols thrust into the swordbelt. His pouch belt bears the distinctive silver plate of the unit, while the unit’s name encircles the front of his bearskin-crested light dragoon helmet. This rather unusual pose, purposely showing all of the trappings of this elite corps, may have been commissioned by the London and Westminster Horse to purposely document its uniform and arms.
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