Children of Lir / Riders of the Sidhe & Deirdre of Sorrows
Preraphaelite Symbolism and Celtic DreamsJohn Duncan was a Scottish painter. Called a madman by some and a mystic by others, he admitted to hearing faerie music whilst painting. Although his work remains strongly rooted in the Preraphaelite movement, there is a certain graphical quality which sets it apart from his contemporaries and likens it to Art Nouveau, while the subject matter is thoroughly Celtic Revival — he is also generally referred to as a Symbolist by art critics. His interest in Celtic myths was shared by the Scottish singer Marjory K. Fraser ; they eventually became close friends and Duncan painted her in 1905. His dreamy, mystical nature led him to fall in love and marry a woman who shared his passion for Irish legends.