Tartan on the Bias?

[jhockin]

The earliest bias cut tartan jacket I'm aware of is that worn by Col Alasdair Macdonnell of Glengarry in Raeburn's 1812 portrait. Glengarry was a bit of a dandy and perhaps started the fashion. Any style of tartan coat generally disappeared during William IV's reign in favour of plain coats although the odd one was still being worn later, probably older ones rather than contemporary with the date of the picture/portrait in which they appear.

Can't recall the date, but if you check the painting of the battle of Culloden, where Highlands are in close quaters with English soliders, you'll note some of the Highlanders wearing jackets and vest, cut on the bias - pretty sure these were painted earlier than 1812 ...

[Woodsheal]

Can't recall the date, but if you check the painting of the battle of Culloden, where Highlands are in close quaters with English soliders, you'll note some of the Highlanders wearing jackets and vest, cut on the bias - pretty sure these were painted earlier than 1812 ...

You are referring to the famous painting by David Morier, which was done shortly after the '45 Rebellion. Morier is best know for his accurate paintings of the various British army regimental uniforms of the period.

And, yes! Bias-cut tartan coats do seem to be in evidence here;

[BoldHighlander]

You are referring to the famous painting by David Morier, which was done shortly after the '45 Rebellion. Morier is best know for his accurate paintings of the various British army regimental uniforms of the period.

Isn't the story behind this painting that the Jacobites in it were suppose to have been modeled on prisoners the government was holding after Culloden?

[figheadair]

Can't recall the date, but if you check the painting of the battle of Culloden, where Highlands are in close quaters with English soliders, you'll note some of the Highlanders wearing jackets and vest, cut on the bias - pretty sure these were painted earlier than 1812 ...

I agree that Morier's portrait appears to show jackets on the bias, as does the c1746 portrait of Sir Stuart Threipland but both original portraits are small and I think are artistic attempts to show the hang of the clothing in action so to speak.

Look at the Culloden portrait carefully and you'll see that in each case the jacket is open and hanging at an angle which has the effect of making the tartan look like it's on the bias. The same is true of the Threipland portrait. Compare this with every individual portrait of the period were the jackets are clearly cut straight as are the only two (yes, there's anothor one) surviving coats of the period.

Isn't the story behind this painting that the Jacobites in it were suppose to have been modeled on prisoners the government was holding after Culloden?

That's the story. I've also read that the individuals were members of the Athole Brigade although I'm not sure how someone writing some 200 years after the event would be able to tell or know.

[BoldHighlander]

Isn't the story behind this painting that the Jacobites in it were suppose to have been modeled on prisoners the government was holding after Culloden?

That's the story. I've also read that the individuals were members of the Athoe Brigade although I'm not sure how someone writing some 200 years after the event would be able to tell or know.

Thanks Peter, I thought I was recalling that correctly, though I didn't know it first got circulated 200 yrs after the fact.

[figheadair]

Thanks Peter, I thought I was recalling that correctly, though I didn't know it first got circulated 200 yrs after the fact.

Can't recall where I read it. It was years ago. Prebble perhaps.

[Mike_Oettle]

This painting would probably be famous without this connection, but I am familiar with it because it appeared on the cover of John Prebble’s Culloden.
Regards,
Mike

[Deil the Yin]

Thanks all yall for the input and discussion pointes. It's somewhat of a relief that there's not some silly Victorian pageantry attached to the matter.

Cheers,
Wesley