Late 17th century portrait showing Highland Dress

[figheadair]

Peter,

Very interesting painting that I haven't seen before. The character on the right seems to be a cleric. The middle figure appears to be a gentleman with a tartan coat on (details not clear). The amount of ribbons on this figure's shoes is amazing! As to the Highlander figure, I'm kind of intrigues by his costuming details. His shoes appear to be flat-sole "turnshoes" (although antiquated in most of Europe, still in use in the Highlands). His truibhs are not cut on the bias, which was done back in the day (on truibhs as well as on hose). The figure has on a "slashed" jacket - again antiquated but still done in the Highlands (see the portrait of Lord Mungo Murray). His plaid is interesting for its shortness, but what the figure apparently has on under the plaid (and over his truibhs) is confusing - note the scalloped bottom edge. If you have a chance to talk to a costume historian about this painting, I should be interested in learning more about that. Are you planning to do a paper on this picture?

Gerry,

You make some interesting observations. The link to the source is on my FB page but for ease, see here. Scroll down and you will find a description of the three characters, all played by John Lacy.

The artist, Michael John Wright, was of course the same Michael Wright responsible for the famous portrait of Mungo Murray which might explain the similarity in the slashed coat in both subjects. Wright trained in Edinburgh so it's possible, indeed likely, that he would have seen people wearing both trews and/or the feileadh mor. The portriat of Mungo Murray is far more detailed in its execution and more accurate; the hose cut on the bias and fold of the plaid show he was not confused by the structure of Highland Dress. As for the costume worn by Lacy, I suspect that it was just that, costume designed to create an effect on stage, hence the enormous bows worn by the middle character. That being the case then the Highland clothes would have been 'on the theme of' rather than being an accurate representation of the dress as it would actually have been worn in Scotland. That might explain the straight cut trews. These are more like tartan trousers or perhaps even made in two parts with sort of shorts and long hose. That might also explain the strange double scolloped arrangement above the knees.