Portrait of William White

English School, 19th century
Oil portrait, after an earlier Georgian original
Presented in an ornate gilt frame

A striking 19th-century portrait of William White, born 2 November 1746 and died 31 March 1821, depicted in late-Georgian formal dress with a scarlet coat, dark facings, gold detailing and powdered hair.

The inscription on the reverse identifies the sitter by name and records his birth and death dates. It further states that the painting is a copy after an original portrait that was in the possession of Alfred White, suggesting a connection to the White family and the preservation of an earlier family portrait through subsequent generations.

The original composition likely dates to the late 18th or very early 19th century, based on the sitter's dress and appearance. The present painting was catalogued as a 19th-century copy.

William White's precise identity and occupation have not yet been established. His clothing is consistent with late-Georgian military or ceremonial dress.

The basic combination is consistent with a late-18th-century British military officer’s uniform: scarlet coat, contrasting facings at the collar/lapels, gilt buttons, white waistcoat/cravat, and an officer-style gold epaulette. The National Army Museum confirms that the contrasting facings were deliberately used to distinguish regiments, so their color is one of the most useful clues.

The gold epaulette is especially important. It pushes the comparison much more toward an officer rather than simply a fashionable gentleman wearing red. Epaulettes became an important part of British officer dress in the later 18th century, and their placement could also carry information about rank.