MovieChat Forums > Rob Roy (1995) Discussion > Montrose's black servant: factually corr...

Montrose's black servant: factually correct as in the 'Culloden Tapestry

posted 12 years ago by jh66
4 replies | jump to latest

This Rob Roy film begins three decades before the doomed battle of Culloden in 1746, and shows a black servant boy (debated in a thread before, although I couldn't see what prompted it) but this practice was in keeping with the fashions of the day.

Many nobles valued their fashionably pale skin- showing that they were rich enough never to need to work outside- being contrasted with the dark skin of a slave servant.

This Tapestry shows just this;-

Mystery over Jamaican at Culloden
By Steven McKenzie, BBC Scotland, Highlands and Islands
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7027840.stm

Historians puzzle over black face in ancient tapestry of Culloden battle (The Scotsman, 2007)
http://www.scotsman.com/news/scottish-news/edinburgh-east-fife/histori ans_puzzle_over_black_face_in_ancient_tapestry_of_culloden_battle_1_69 4194

[–] cheffaking 10 years ago

Many nobles valued their fashionably pale skin- showing that they were rich enough never to need to work outside- being contrasted with the dark skin of a slave servant.

Very interesting, didn't know that. I found myself always staring at him when he was on screen. Never said a word, they had him very sharply dressed and he followed Montrose at his every step.

[–] KayDrama 10 years ago

If you watch closely, you'll see a scene where the boy subtley shirks as far away from Montrose as he can but his body language shows he knows he must not.

[–] IvarTB 10 years ago

Interesting!

[–] Betamax66 (588) 6 years ago

Fascinating stuff.