Tartans worn in the '45 .......

Does any reader know where this image comes from?

click to enlarge the picture please


In fact it's the left half of David Morier's scene from Culloden which he painted in 1746. [The redcoat Grenadier's bayonets can just be seen at far right.] Morier was a favourite of the 'Elector of Hanover' whose portrait he painted as King George II. He also painted two equestrian portraits of the Elector's son, the Duke of Cumberland - victor over Prince Charles Edward and the Highlanders at Culloden.

The painting above's particular interest to the Trust is that it depicts tartans reportedly worn at the battle as seen later by the Swiss born artist on Highlander prisoners. The tartans vary within the same clan reinforcing the well accepted belief that clans did not adopt any single pattern until the early 19th century. The designs shown by Morier will be used by Andrew Crummy inter alia for the Prestonpans Tapestry currently being embroidered.