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Museum Portrait Day
Kenneth Sutherland, 3rd Lord Duffus, d. 1734. Jacobite
Artist: Richard Waitt (1684–1733)
Many historic tartans are known only through their appearance in portraits, lacking surviving fabric samples. One example is the tartan depicted in the 1705 portrait of Kenneth Sutherland, 3rd Lord Duffus, now preserved in the Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh. This painting captures Lord Duffus in traditional Highland dress, showcasing a bold, intricate tartan pattern that has come to symbolize his family’s legacy. As a prominent Scottish nobleman, Lord Duffus initially supported the Act of Union in 1707 but later joined the 1715 Jacobite Rising in an effort to restore the Stuart dynasty. His participation led to the forfeiture of his estates, exile, and eventual service as an admiral in the Russian Imperial Navy. Painted before his involvement in the Jacobite cause, the portrait presents him as an archetypal Gaelic aristocrat, dressed for hunting—a role deeply rooted in Highland tradition. This tartan, seen in the portrait, is often associated with the Sutherland of Duffus tartan, an early and significant clan pattern. Though this specific tartan is known primarily through its depiction in the portrait, it shares elements with the official Sutherland tartan, which the clan acknowledges as one of its oldest. According to the Sutherland Clan website, this version is believed to have been worn by clan members as early as 1746. The name "Duffus," derived from Gaelic for “dark water,” reflects the lands in Morayshire from which the family hailed, reinforcing a deep connection between place, identity, and heritage through the tartan’s design. ❤️ 🖤 💛 🖌️ 🎨
The title "Lord of Duffus" originated with Freskin de Moravia, a soldier in King David's army who helped suppress a rebellion in Moray. In 1705, Kenneth Sutherland inherited the title and lands, though they were heavily mortgaged. While serving the Crown in the West Indies, Kenneth's inheritance was delayed. Upon his return, he assumed the title and voted for the Union in 1707. Financial strain led him to join Queen Anne’s navy, where he rose to Captain. In 1711, after a brutal battle with French privateers, he was captured but later released.
Kenneth joined the Jacobite cause in 1715, proclaiming King James VIII in Tain and attempting to rally support from nearby lairds. He led troops to the Battle of Sheriffmuir, but Jacobite forces withdrew, leading to a failed uprising. Pursued by the British, Kenneth fled to Sweden but was eventually captured and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Released in 1717, he served as a naval advisor in Russia but returned to Scotland in 1733, dying a year later without title or land. His son, Eric, tried unsuccessfully to reclaim the title, using it informally despite opposition.
For more in the Scottish National Galleries, click the portrait!