A portrait

Gillray, James, 1756-1815 · May 12, 1796

Sir David Dundas on horseback, in profile to the left, drills a line of cavalry at some distance. He holds a gold-headed cane in place of a whip and sits his horse in the manner of a bad rider. His foot is thrust forward so that his boot projects beyond the animal's chest. He holds the curb rein only, and this is merely placed between his hand and the cane. The snaffle lies on the horse's neck. The animal is clumsy, with shaggy fetlocks. Under the saddle is a leopard-skin. Dundas is on rising ground above the level of the soldiers who are drawn up facing some tents (BM).