Fingal vindt Conban-Cargla 1746 - 1785

Alexander Runciman created this etching, Fingal Finds Conban-Cargla, in the late 18th century. It depicts a scene from the Ossian poems, which were immensely popular at the time, and purported to be translations of ancient Gaelic bardic literature. But let's consider the social context: Runciman was Scottish, and the Ossian poems contributed to a sense of Scottish national identity, a burgeoning Romantic interest in the sublime beauty of the Scottish Highlands, and a deep nostalgia for a lost, heroic past. The artist uses a stark, dramatic style to convey the emotional intensity of the scene, appealing to the viewers emotions rather than appealing to Neoclassical conventions of reason. To truly understand this artwork, it's crucial to delve into the history of the Ossian poems themselves, to look at debates over their authenticity, and to understand their role in shaping cultural identity in Scotland and beyond. Only then can we appreciate the full significance of Runciman's interpretation.