The sitter was the son of the celebrated first Baron Heathfield of Gibraltar, so named after his heroic defence of the rock against the Spanish in 1779-82. The second Baron, seen here, also had a distinguished career as soldier and courtier, but without ever achieving the fame of his father. Four versions of this composition are recorded in the artist’s lifetime and four survive today. Matching painting to record is more difficult: this is probably not the work exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1811, but rather one of the three versions mentioned in 1813 and 1814.

The equestrian portrait is a tradition way of suggesting a heroic military commander, but in this case Agasse seems deliberately to suggest an aging soldier enjoying a quiet ride with his servant behind (dressed in his personal livery). The slanting shadow may also be intended to convey the idea of Heathfield’s twilight years.