Masterpiece of the Week: Bannalist and Pandour, 'Freikorps Trenck', 1748

Bannalist and Pandour
David Morier, 1748
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection 
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Created by David Morier (1705?-1770), this work of oil on canvas was commissioned by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765). David Morier was a celebrated Swiss painter, known for his military and sporting scenes. 

Morier had a long association with the Duke of Cumberland, starting in 1747, when he painted a group of canvases of the troops under the Duke’s command. Until 1764, Morier was employed as “limner” (or painter) to the Duke of Cumberland on an annual salary of £100. The painting depicts two soldiers facing the viewer. They are posed in front of a flat, open landscape, holding rifles in their right hands. The one on the right is wearing a scarlet uniform, while the one on the left is clad in blue with red boots. 

Masterpiece of the Week: Bannalist and Pandour, 'Freikorps Trenck', 1748

Bannalist and Pandour
David Morier, 1748
Crown Copyright
The Royal Collection
Image Courtesy of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II

Created by David Morier (1705?-1770), this work of oil on canvas was commissioned by William Augustus, Duke of Cumberland (1721-1765). David Morier was a celebrated Swiss painter, known for his military and sporting scenes. 

Morier had a long association with the Duke of Cumberland, starting in 1747, when he painted a group of canvases of the troops under the Duke’s command. Until 1764, Morier was employed as “limner” (or painter) to the Duke of Cumberland on an annual salary of £100. The painting depicts two soldiers facing the viewer. They are posed in front of a flat, open landscape, holding rifles in their right hands. The one on the right is wearing a scarlet uniform, while the one on the left is clad in blue with red boots. 

Sculpture of the Day: The Duke of Cumberland, 1770-1820

Wax Relief, 1770-1820
Depicting the Duke of Cumberland
Samuel Percy
The Victoria & Albert Museum

 

During the Eighteenth and Nineteenth centuries, low relief portraits in wax, such as the one pictured above, became quite popular in Britain.  These sculptures were often exhibited at the Royal Academy, the Society of Artists and elsewhere, but most importantly, they found their way into many wealthy homes after having been commissioned by eager patrons who wished for their images to be made more permanent.  These items served not only as records, but as portable mementos. 

This half-length, three quarter relief depicts Ernest Augustus, Duke of Cumberland, in his naval uniform, shown smiling, facing to the right.  It was made between 1770 and 1820 by Samuel Percy (1750-1820), a notable sculpture of the day.