A previously unknown portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Bonnie Prince Charlie), likely made in Scotland during the 1745 Jacobite rising, has been on display at the West Highland Museum since June 2023. The owner of the portrait, renowned art historian, writer and former art dealer, Dr Bendor Grosvenor has recently agreed to extend the loan to the museum through until Spring 2024.
The so-called ‘Highlander Portrait’ is one of the most widely replicated portraits of Charles, appearing on snuff boxes, Jacobite glasses, and prints, including many in the West Highland Museum. But until now, no contemporary painted example has been known.
The portrait shows Charles wearing tartan, a white cockade in his bonnet, and the Order of the Thistle, the pre-eminent Scottish Order of Chivalry. At some point, probably in the 19th century, much of the face and background was repainted to make Charles ‘bonnier’, even giving him blue eyes, leading to the identification of the sitter to be doubted.
But an x-ray and conservation analysis has revealed not only the original portrait of Charles beneath, with brown eyes, but that it was painted on top of what appears to be a Jacobite battle banner. The banner shows the coat of arms of a Scottish clan, with a red saltire on a white background. It is possible this is the arms of Archibald Menzies of Shian, who fought for Charles during the uprising. A banner of a similar description was captured after the Battle of Culloden in 1746. Charles stayed at Castle Menzies on his way north to Inverness in 1746, and it may be that the portrait was painted at about this time.
In contrast to Allan Ramsay’s portrait of Charles painted in Edinburgh in 1745, in which Charles wears no tartan and only the Order of the Garter, the Highlander Portrait was intended to have a Scottish audience. It may have been intended to help rally support for the prince after his retreat from Derby.
The Highlander Portrait was engraved by Robert Strange in Inverness in 1746, but he is unlikely to have been the artist of the painting. Examples of Strange’s engraved portrait are replicated in an oil painting, miniatures, and a hidden portrait snuff also on display in our Jacobite gallery.
The portrait will be displayed in the museum’s Jacobite gallery until the Easter 2024. The portrait is on loan from Dr Bendor Grosvenor, who in 2013 discovered Allan Ramsay’s portrait of Charles, which is now on display in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
The discovery of this unknown portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart is a remarkable accomplishment and we are delighted that Dr Grosvenor has chosen to loan this important painting to the West Highland Museum for its inaugural public display. It will be exhibited in our Jacobite gallery alongside an image of the x-ray revealing the original portrait and the banner hidden beneath the now visible portrait.
