John Hayes St Leger (1765-1800)

Thomas Gainsborough's John Hayes St Leger of 1782 depicts the young army officer who served in the American Revolutionary War, capturing the patrician bearing and military confidence of a man who represented the British officer class during a period of imperial crisis. St Leger came from a notable Anglo-Irish family and his portrait belongs to Gainsborough's late London period when his grand-manner style had reached its full maturity, the fluid brushwork and luminous complexion creating the characteristic combination of elegance and vitality.

The full-length composition demonstrates Gainsborough's mature London style, with bravura brushwork creating the shimmering textures of silk and velvet. The loose, confident handling of the costume contrasts with the more carefully modeled face, a hallmark of his later technique.