19Th Century Military Portrait.

A fine example of a mid-Victorian overpainted photographic portrait, dating to circa 1860s–1870s — a period when photographic enlargements hand-finished by artists became increasingly fashionable. This striking image depicts a British military officer in full dress uniform, his scarlet tunic, gold epaulettes, and sash richly enhanced with oil paint to give the composition the presence and depth of a traditional portrait.

During this era, photographic studios began employing skilled artists to transform black-and-white photographs into fully-fledged painted likenesses. The process involved mounting an enlarged photograph onto canvas, then overpainting with oils or watercolours to enhance realism and lend texture. This portrait exemplifies the technique beautifully: the officer’s face and uniform retain the precise accuracy of early photography, while the hand-painted embellishments add tonal warmth, dimensionality, and a painterly flourish.

Presented in its original carved and gilded wooden frame, showing age-appropriate wear with areas of gesso and gilding loss, which enhance the historical authenticity of the piece. A superb convergence of photography and traditional portraiture, and a compelling example of Victorian innovation in portrait-making.