Charles Edward Stuart's Targe

**artificer** · 6th February 14, 10:45 AM

To date I'd only ever seen the targe Bonnie Prince Charlie had carried at Culloden in the Kenneth MacLeay watercolour of Lachlan and Ewan McPherson, as held by Ewan.

That is, until today. I was doing some research for an upcoming project when what should I stumble across on Wikipedia?

All I can say is "Wow!".

And Kenneth MacLeay was really dead-on in his illustration as well.

ith:

**Father Bill** · 6th February 14, 10:52 AM

So... what's the documentation on it? Where is it housed or is this a reproduction? It's fascinating, but could it be a repro based on the painting you've referenced?

**artificer** · 6th February 14, 11:15 AM

Originally Posted by Father Bill

So... what's the documentation on it? Where is it housed or is this a reproduction? It's fascinating, but could it be a repro based on the painting you've referenced?

It's on display at the National Museum of Scotland- I've just somehow
missed the picture over and over, I guess. Probably because I'm usually looking at sporrans

ith:

**Father Bill** · 6th February 14, 11:32 AM

I really am impressed, Scott. Super wow!

**Steve Ashton** · 6th February 14, 11:48 AM

I don't mean to pick nits but the National Museum's Scotland website listing does not reference that this was actually carried at Culloden.

"Dress targe made of wooden boards covered with pigskin, with silver mounts, c. 1740, part of the accoutrements presented to Prince Charles Edward Stuart by James, 3rd Duke of Perth"

From the condition of this it would appear that it has never even been outdoors. There are no signs of use at all. It appears to be in new condition as a presentation item would be.

**artificer** · 6th February 14, 12:05 PM

Steve,

in the notes of Amelia Murray MacGregor from the bound collection of MacLeay's illustrations for Queen Victoria (The Highlanders of Scotland) the targe is described as follows:

pg20 "Ewan MacPherson... he stands 6 feet 2 and carries the Target made in France for Prince Charles Edward before he came to Scotland, and presented after Culloden to Cluny's Ancestor."
... "The targe is now in the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh."

pg55 "The target represented in the picture was carried by Prince Charles at Culloden. The two-handed sword was for two hundred years in the possession of the Frasers of Struy, the last of whom
bequeathed it to the present Cluny."

Whether or not it was truly TAKEN into battle, I could not say, but accounts place it at Culloden.

Of course the accounts COULD be apocryphal, just like how every old sporran is Rob Roy's and George Washington apparently slept EVERYWHERE.

But the notes are VERY detailed for each sitter and much of their clothing, down to how much they were reimbursed for travel and being away from their work/estates.

Interestingly enough there was a second one of these targes made, which was housed at Warwick Castle but destroyed by fire in 1871.

ith:

**Steve Ashton** · 6th February 14, 12:51 PM

I bow to your far deeper understanding and research of Macleay documents than me.

I was simply pointing out that the museum itself does not make the claim that this was used at or during the battle. It does say that it was presented to Charles before the time of the battle and he presented it again after the time of the battle. So it is a magnificent piece and is documented to be in his possession during the period of Culloden.

When I saw this I looked pretty closely at it (as closely as the display case would allow) and while Silver is a fairly soft metal there are no scratches or dents that I could see anywhere. The straps on the back have no sweat stains and show no wear that I could see. It looks like it was made yesterday. And that is remarkable for something over 270 years old.

My great Aunt had a silver tea set made by Paul Revere. (Also during the mid 1700's) That Tea set had never been used and was only taken out of the silver case to be polished. That Silver showed more wear than the Silver on this Targe.

And I am very disappointing that you say that George did not sleep in my upper guest bedroom during his visit to Victoria. I guess I'll have to take the sign down now.

**creagdhubh** · 6th February 14, 01:07 PM

The targe was on display for many years at Cluny Castle (traditional seat of the Macpherson Chiefs) in Laggan, Inverness-shire. During the late 19th century, the 20th Chief of the Clan Macpherson, Ewen Macpherson of Cluny (1804-1885), affectionately known by his people in Badenoch and all over the Highlands as 'Old Cluny,' donated the targe to the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh (now the National Museum of Scotland) where it can be seen on display today.

According to 'Old Cluny' and verified by Clan Macpherson historians of the time, to include the reputed Aeneas Macpherson of Strathmashie, F.S.A. Scot, the targe was one of thirteen that had been made for Prince Charles Edward Stuart and were ceremonially given by the Prince to some of his most loyal Jacobite supporters and commanders in 1745. Originally, the targe was gifted to 'Old Cluny's' grandfather, Ewan Macpherson of Cluny (Cluny of the '45), Colonel of the Macpherson contingent (Cluny's Regiment) within the Jacobite Army, by Prince Charles Edward Stuart, therefore this particular targe was never carried by the Prince at Culloden.

I've always been very fond of the targe and its associated history. It's quite a visually striking and handsome piece to say the least. Kenneth MacLeay did the original specimen justice in his fantastic watercolour portrayal of the targe, held by Lachlan Macpherson ('Lachlan Mor') of Catlodge. I've always been rather fond of MacLeay's portrait of Lachlan and Ewan Macpherson as well.

'Old Cluny'

**artificer** · 6th February 14, 01:17 PM

Originally Posted by creagdhubh

The targe was on display for many years at Cluny Castle (traditional seat of Macpherson Chiefs) in Laggan, Inverness-shire. During the late 19th century, the 20th Chief of the Clan Macpherson, Ewen Macpherson of Cluny (1804-1885), affectionately known by his people in Badenoch and all over the Highlands as 'Old Cluny,' donated the targe to the Royal Scottish Museum in Edinburgh (now the National Museum of Scotland) where it can be seen on display today.

According to 'Old Cluny' and verified by Clan Macpherson historians of the time, to include the reputed Aeneas Macpherson of Strathmashie, F.S.A. Scot, the targe was one of thirteen that had been made for Prince Charles Edward Stuart and were ceremonially given by the Prince to some of his most loyal Jacobite supporters and commanders in 1745. Originally, the targe was gifted to 'Old Cluny's' grandfather, Ewan Macpherson of Cluny (Cluny of the '45), Colonel of the Macpherson contingent (Cluny's Regiment) within the Jacobite Army, by Prince Charles Edward Stuart, therefore this particular targe was never carried by the Prince at Culloden.

Super! Thank you Kyle, I was hoping you'd weigh in on this.

Yet another case of "George Washington Slept Here". Although I DID hear that he made a few stops out around British Columbia, Steve- so I think your sign is fine

I wonder what happened to the other 11...

and if Bonnie Prince Charlie really did carry one at Culloden?

As an aside, can you imagine carting around 13 of these things while at war? They must have been stacked up like pizza boxes

ith:

**McMurdo** · 6th February 14, 01:22 PM

Well rather interesting reading, thanks all for the well researched posts. For me this shows yet again that these portraits by Kenneth MacLeay were and are in fact wonderful representations of various people in the best Highlandwear they could beg or borrow. Not the flights of fancy that many think them to be. Thank you Scott for this wonderful example of what a great portrait artist MacLeay really was.