This lecture explores the influence of both Scottish and French art on Charles Mackie through a consideration of the work he produced in the 1890s. Mackie was inspired by the ideas of fellow artist and Celtic Revivalist John Duncan, as well as the activities of the publisher and visionary Patrick Geddes. He participated in the avant-garde journal the Evergreen, published in 1895-6, producing distinctive ‘Tree of Life’ designs for the covers. Around the same date, however, he was also exposed to the art theories of Paul Sérusier, himself an ardent revivalist, based at Huelgoat in Brittany. As this talk will show, both Duncan and Sérusier not only introduced Mackie to a new way of painting but shared with him their mutual passion for Celtic myth and other more esoteric sources of inspiration.
Frances Fowle is Professor of Nineteenth-Century Art at the University of Edinburgh and Senior Curator at the National Galleries of Scotland. She has published widely on French and Scottish art, including several articles on Charles Mackie, John Duncan and the Celtic Revival.
Free, but booking is essential
This lecture will now be run online on Microsoft Teams; booking is essential as attendees will be sent joining instructions a day or so beforehand. If you do not hear from us an hour or so before, please check your junk or spam folder. If joining us on a mobile device (tablet or smartphone) you will need to install Teams onto your device beforehand, and also Microsoft Powerpoint if your device is older so that you can view any slides. The apps can be downloaded free from the App Store or the Google Play Store.
Charles Hodge Mackie and the Celtic Revival in Scotland and France