Richard Simkin (1850-1926) - The Northumberland Fusiliers

These well-executed drawings of the Northumberland Fusiliers in the British Army are painted by the renowned military artist, Richard Simkin. Simkin was always as accurate as he could be for his military drawings and there are similar examples in Carman's useful book on the artist's works with plate 59g showing an officer from the Northumberland Fusiliers in a similar outfit c.1902. [1]
 
The fusilier regiments began as infantry that guarded the British Army's artillery train. They were similar to continental regiments that were known as grenadiers. There were several regiments in the army that 'were honoured by conversion to fusiliers, [including] the 5th Northumberland Regiment in 1836.'[2] The uniform from '1855, [had] a new pattern shako introduced, tapering towards the top, and now the fusilier regiments discontinued the ball-tuft and instead had a hanging plume of white hair, but with the privileged red-and-white for the Northumberland Fusiliers.' [3] This can be seen in our watercolour.
 
Medium: watercolour on paper, signed l.r. 'R SIMKIN', 23.8 x 20.4 cm, framed.
 
Condition report: in very good overall condition. Small amounts of time staining and foxing around the edge of the watercolour.
 
Bibliography:
 
[1] W. Y. Carman, 'Richard Simkin's Uniforms of the British Army: The Infantry Regiments', Webb & Bower: Exeter, 1982, p.90.
 
[2] Ibid., p125.
 
[3] Ibid., p.129.