Good friends brought a print of the painting below home from their last trip to Scotland, where this hangs in one of the National Museums in Edinburgh. I though it was so beautiful that I would post it for Art Sunday. Above is another of John Duncans paintings entitled " St. Columba Bidding Farewell to the White Horse".
Saint Bride
1913
According to the legend of the Irish Saint Bride she was transported miraculously to Bethlehem to attend the nativity of Christ. Here two angels carry the white robed saint across the sea. The seascape reflects Duncan's fascination with the Outer Hebrides and the Isle of Iona. The birds and seal provide an effective naturalistic foil for the supernatural angels overlapping the patterned border. Scenes from the life of Christ decorate the angel's robes, and may include the artist's self-portrait as the tiny clown (a holy fool) accompanying the procession of the magi on the leading angel's gown.
This painting was done by John Duncan, A Scottish Symbolist painter (1866-1945).
Since Saint Bridgets Day( Irish Saint) just passed, I thought this might be appropriate. Saint Bride is another name for Bridget, she has a lot of spellings of her name. There is a wee bit of history at the top regarding the painting and the story behind it. Below are a few links to tell you about John Duncan and St. Bridget.
point of interest, the seal in the painting, to me , is a Selkie.Whichis a mythological creature from Scotland and Ireland being a seal that can transform into a human. Being Duncan was a Scotsman seems right to me. Link for information on Selkies below also.
I think the painting is beautiful. The colors are so striking. Hope you enjoy it also.
John Duncanart link
St. Bridgetinformation
Selkiemyth information
Don't forget to visitNicholas V our host for The Art Sunday Tour
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