Major-General John William Ormsby, 1869

Oil on board by Emily Henrietta Ormsby (1845-1901), 1869.

For several years, Major-General Ormsby (1811-1869) was Governor of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. This establishment was responsible for the training of commissioned officers for the Royal Artillery and Royal Engineers. Ormsby died at Woolwich in March 1869, aged 58.

Emily Ormsby painted this portrait of her father in 1869 - the year he died aged 58. Her depiction of uniform detail, including badges and medals, is highly accurate. It is unclear if the work was completed while her father was still alive.