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Lot Essay
The sitter was in the 4th Troop of Horse Guards, gaining promotion to Brigadier on 17 September 1743, and fought in the 4th, or 'Scottish', or 'Union', Troop at Dettingen (27 June 1743) and Fontenoy (11 May 1745). The picture is believed to date from between 1750 and 1754.
The letters of Richard Davenport (4th L.G. and 10th Dragoons), his brother officer, include some interesting references to Taylor:
'Lyon [William Berkely Lyon, d.1752] is coming into our Mess. He sings charmingly, has some wit, and a great deal of good nature. Captain Taylor has a female correspondent in England, with whom he is honourably engaged. He entertains us with her letters, which are excessively foolish, as well his answers, which he expresses without reserve.' (16 February 1743, from Ghent).
'I saw Taylor, Lyon and Bateman and several others. They were all very jocular and discovered nothing like fear'. (1 August 1743, in a description of the Life Guards at Dettingen).
The letters of Richard Davenport (4th L.G. and 10th Dragoons), his brother officer, include some interesting references to Taylor:
'Lyon [William Berkely Lyon, d.1752] is coming into our Mess. He sings charmingly, has some wit, and a great deal of good nature. Captain Taylor has a female correspondent in England, with whom he is honourably engaged. He entertains us with her letters, which are excessively foolish, as well his answers, which he expresses without reserve.' (16 February 1743, from Ghent).
'I saw Taylor, Lyon and Bateman and several others. They were all very jocular and discovered nothing like fear'. (1 August 1743, in a description of the Life Guards at Dettingen).