|
Art, Home_____ Mr. Darcy?____ Da Vinci_____ Lady of Shalott Madame______ Mrs. Siddons__ |
Another portrait, quite large, in fact (236.2 x 145.4 cm.) was Joshua Reynold's
Colonel Banastre Tarleton painted in 1782.Colonel Tarleton, or "Bloody Tarleton" as he was known to American patriots, was quite a figure in the south during the Revolutionary War. He was the inspiration for "Col. Tavington" in the recent movie "The Patriot" (which for some strange reason they showed on our British Airways flight from New York, to London! Odd choice of films!). I say inspiration because, though he was guilty of atrocities he did not, as portrayed in the film, burn a whole church full of people or die at the hands of Mel Gibson. Indeed, he returned to England a hero. The description, which hangs beside his portrait in the National Gallery states: The sitter (1754-1833) distinguished himself in the American War of Independence, and returned to England as a lieutenant-colonel about the beginning of 1782. Later he was Member of Parliament for Liverpool, a general and a baronet. This work was painted in 1782. Tarleton is in the uniform of a troop, raised during the American campaign, known as the British Legion or (for the cavalry part) Tarleton's Green Horse, of which he was commandant. It is assumed that the flag above him is of the British Legion. In 1781 Tarleton lost two fingers of his right hand, as Reynolds discreetly shows. |