The Celtic Revival

The Celtic Revival was an interdisciplinary movement which started in Ireland and quickly gained popularity in Britain and Europe in the late 19th and early 20th century. 

Proponents of this revival sought to identify and explore aspects of early-Medieval Celtic culture in their art, music, poetry and literature. In Scotland, ancient myths, legends and folklore were being reintroducing in a modern context. 

Prominent figures within the Edinburgh Social Union were the stained-glass artist Douglas Strachan

and the renowned architect and designer Robert Lorimer.

Artists involved with the group who participated in the Celtic Revival in Scotland included Phoebe Anna Traquair, who produced a huge array of artworks including embroidery, illuminated manuscripts and murals featuring references to Celtic mythology or visual culture.

Scottish artist John Duncan was also an active union member and played a significant role in Scotland’s Celtic Revival, resurrecting subject matter from Celtic folklore for many of his most famous paintings, including Angus Og, God of Love and Courtesy, Putting a Spell of Summer

William Brassey Hole’s murals for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery made in 1889, did much to promote Scottish history, illustrating over 150 figures in the Processional Frieze and documenting important events from Scottish history.