Jacobites, 1745 1874

John Pettie painted this scene of Jacobites in 1893, nearly 150 years after the event it depicts. This lag in time tells us a lot about the painting. By the Victorian era, the Jacobite rebellion had become ripe for romanticization. Here, Jacobite soldiers gather around a man reading aloud a proclamation or battle plan. The painting creates meaning through visual codes of Scottish nationalism, such as kilts and highland dress, referencing a romanticized historical association with Scottish rebellion. Consider how specific features of Scotland, such as its history of clan warfare, might have influenced the politics of the image. Pettie’s painting contributes to a long tradition of history painting in Britain, but it does so with a distinct air of nostalgia. Historians of art use many kinds of primary resources, such as documents, literature, and folklore to understand the meaning of Jacobitism in the late 19th century. We look at how it was represented in art and popular culture and how the image promotes certain ideas about Scotland and Britain.