The military collection has recently acquired a rather interesting hand-colored engraving depicting British officers at rest. It was published in Dublin by William McCleary whose premises were located at 39 Nassau Street. While the artist is unknown, the practice of poking fun at the army was very common in the post-Waterloo era. This image dates from around 1825 at a time when the uniforms worn by officers were becoming more flamboyant. Dandyism was rife and many satirists caricatured such trends which were reflected in the vanity of the military elite.
This particular scene is crammed with fascinating vignettes. Various uniform accouterments litter the carpeted floor and these along with the dress of one of the men suggest that they are members of a cavalry regiment. The one wearing his dress uniform on the left admires himself in the mirror as he sits by the fireplace. The items of dress on the floor appear stiff suggestive of starching. A military cap lies beneath a table while a helmet with a bearskin crown stands on the chest of drawers. A corset in the foreground might seem out of place in a male setting but is yet another symbol of the extremes to which the officer class had gone to create their immaculate image. Another officer, his back to the viewer, practices his flute while a third lounges on a chaise l’ange smoking a long Meerschaum pipe while reading a a list of promotions. He leans on a table looking rather intoxicated from the claret that he has consumed from the overturned glass but there is still more to be drunk from the two bottles.
Cavalry officers were drawn from the upper classes and their recreational pursuits are denoted by the framed pictures hanging of the wall, the boxing gloves, a cricket bat and ball, fishing and shooting gear. The publisher has added a personal touch by including a printed list of his prints, &c on the wall. A pet dog and two puppies who tug at the tunic complete this amusing scene which satirizes the easy life experienced by many officers in stark contrast to the lives of their men.