John Duncan (28 March 1866 – 24 March 1945) was a Scottish painter and illustrator associated with the Celtic Revival and Symbolist movements of the late‑19th and early‑20th centuries. He is noted for his mural work, decorative paintings, and illustrations that incorporated motifs drawn from Celtic mythology, early Christian iconography, and Scottish folklore.
Early life and education
Duncan was born in Dundee, Scotland. He received his early artistic training at the Dundee School of Art and later attended the Glasgow School of Art, where he studied under prominent Scottish artists of the period.
Career
In the 1890s Duncan became involved with the Celtic Revival, a cultural movement that sought to celebrate and reinterpret Celtic heritage. He produced a series of murals and panels for religious and public buildings, the most renowned of which include:
- Murals for St Columba’s Church (now St Columba’s Cathedral) in Glasgow, depicting early Christian and Celtic saints.
- A series of panels for the chapel of the University of Glasgow’s St Mungo’s College, illustrating scenes from Scottish legend.
Duncan also worked as an illustrator, providing artwork for literary works that explored Celtic themes, such as the limited‑edition printing of William Sharp’s The Book of the Gael (1900). His style combined flat, decorative patterns with a symbolic use of colour, reflecting contemporary Symbolist aesthetics while emphasizing Celtic ornamental traditions.
Later years and legacy
After relocating to the Isle of Iona in the early 20th century, Duncan continued to paint and draw inspiration from the island’s monastic history and landscape. He remained active as an artist and teacher until his death in 1945. Duncan’s work has been exhibited in Scottish galleries and is held in collections such as the National Galleries of Scotland. He is recognized for contributing to the visual vocabulary of the Celtic Revival and for influencing subsequent generations of Scottish artists interested in national identity and mythological subject matter.