traditional vs. classic

[creagdhubh]

I think we are in danger for falling into the trap that the artist may have intended. I do not believe for one second that the attire worn by the gentlemen in this and other like pictures was normal daywear for Scots, even well to do ones. These pictures should be regarded as nothing else than trying to "sell" the romance of Scotland. We can all dig out our Sunday best,or a Dress uniform and pose for a picture, but we all know that is not and never will be, normal wear.

I think the hat in question is known as a "hummel".

I completely agree with Jock Scot. I have an undergraduate degree in fine art and am an accomplished oil potrait painter and have analyzed Macleay's work for around 7 years. His portraits of the Highlanders are indeed impressive, however, one who is looking at them for inspiration and ideas with regards to the wearing of their own Highland attire should use steady caution. I would agree that there are certain elements from the Highlanders presented that could be pulled out and used in today's wearing of Highland dress-mainly ideas for the fullest of full dress for evening wear. You have to remember, Macleay painted those portraits in the 19th-century, during the reign of HRH Queen Victoria, it was the style back then for Highlanders, with some wealth or stature, or retainers of the Queen herself, to wear all kinds of items such as pistols, broadswords, targes, huge plaids, horsehair sporrans, etc. Some of which you could most certainly adapt and wear today. However, you also have to understand that each specific Highlander was a representation of a Highland clan, which means there is no doubt that the respected Chief of each clan would want his men that sat for the portrait to look their best in all of their finery. The book ('The Highlanders of Scotland'-which is presently hard to fine-Haggerston Press) actuallly has a written portion that describes how much money it took for the models to prepare for their portraits-written in the 19th-century by Amelia MacGregor.

[OC Richard]

...no doubt that the respected Chief of each clan would want his men that sat for the portrait to look their best in all of their finery.

This gives the impression that all the men are dressed in elaborate Highland costume. Many are, but many others are in quite plain dress.

Of the 56 kilted figures, 24 are in the "Celtic" jackets so popular at that time, but 21 are in plain "day" jackets.

Absolutely plain grey tweed day jackets, plain Balmorals and Glengarries, plain hose, and ordinary Oxford shoes are not what comes to mind when we speak of these men being dressed in "finery".

[creagdhubh]

This gives the impression that all the men are dressed in elaborate Highland costume. Many are, but many others are in quite plain dress.

Of the 56 kilted figures, 24 are in the "Celtic" jackets so popular at that time, but 21 are in plain "day" jackets.

Absolutely plain grey tweed day jackets, plain Balmorals and Glengarries, plain hose, and ordinary Oxford shoes are not what comes to mind when we speak of these men being dressed in "finery".

Come on now my good man, you are preaching to the choir here! Of course not all of the Highlanders featured in the book are dressed in finery, and you are correct, some are indeed dressed in normal day to day attire, I know that. I am speaking of the 24 in the so called "Celtic" jackets (doublets of many kind, many of them looking like today's regulation doublet) you speak of. Excuse me for giving that kind of "impression" that all the men are dressed in elaborate costume-and they are not "costumes" in my opinion. I have studied that book for a long time, as I am sure you have as well. Cheers!