New photography by Shannon Ruff captured with a digital camera-2006.

Captain Henniker

Artist James Tassie (Scottish | British, 1735-1799)

CultureEnglish

Date1788

MediumGlass paste

DimensionsOverall: 3 7/8 x 3 in. (9.8 x 7.6 cm)
Overall, Frame: 4 3/16 x 3 3/8 in. (10.6 x 8.6 cm)

InscribedBreast truncation is inscribed: "Tassie F.". Shoulder truncation: "CAPT. HENNIKER/FIRST HORSE-/GRENADIER GUARDS/1788".

Credit LineGift of Mark A. Clark in honor of Nancy O. Merrill at her retirement.

Object number90.50

On View

Chrysler Museum of Art, Gallery 116-2, Case 9

DescriptionThis miniature portrait medallion of "Captain Henniker" (Brydges-Trecothick) is of cast opaque white glass paste. The bas-relief profile bust (facing right) depicts this British grenadier with beribboned queue in an officer's uniform with braid-decorated epaulet on shoulder.

Label TextPortraint Medallion "Captain Henniker" James Tassie (1735-1799), London Dated 1788 Glass paste, cast. Gilt metal frame. Inscription: on truncation of shoulder CAPT. HENNIKER/ FIRST HORSE-/ GRENADIER GUARDS/1788 Mark: on truncation of breast Tassie F Anonymous gift in honor of Nancy Merrill at her retirement. 90.50 Tassie's remarkable glass portraits were first molded in wax. Molds were then made so that multiple originals could be cast in the glass paste that Tassie called white enamel composition.Published ReferencesJohn Miller Gray , JAMES & WILLIAM TASSIE: A BIOGRAPHICAL AND CRITICAL SKETCH, WITH A CATALOGUE OF THEIR PORTRAIT MEDALLIONS OF MODERN PERSONAGES (London: The Holland Press, 1974. Reprint of 1894 ed.), No. 185 identifies the sitter as Sir Brydges-Trecothick Henniker, BART (1767-1816), youngest son of John 1st Lord Henniker. Gary Baker, "Captain Henniker: A British Grenadier's Portrait in Glass", The Chrysler Museum BULLETIN, Vol. 20, No. 6 (August 1990), pp. 3-4; ill. p. 3.