Lt J Ward, Royal Artillery. A pencil portrait taken in Limerick 1855

An original pencil portrait of the officer in uniform, seated with legs crossed. Drawn on paper , 5½ x 7¼ ins and inscribed in ink Lt Ward R.A. Limerick 1855 and mounted on part of an old album sheet. This came from one of several albums of sketches and paintings made in the 1850s and 60s by Edward James Upton whilst serving in the 72nd Highlanders and later the 26th (Cameronians). The artist spent some years in Ireland before leaving for the Indian Mutiny. Although the artist identifies the sitter by surname only there was only one Ward serving as a lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1855. Edward John Ward was commissioned into the RA in 1854 and had served in the Crimea at the siege of Sebastopol. Whether or not he was one of those who travelled with Upton to serve in Central India in 1858 we do not know. apr11/1