The banners and the text on them is always significant in the paintings. Here the woman carries a banner on which are the words of Scots poet, Robert Burns. The lines come from "Scots wha Hae!"
Find out what this poem is about and consider why this poet and this poem are featured. Why do you think this poem was adopted as the unofficial anthem of the 1820 rising?
The woman is in the foreground and contrasts with the women on the left of the painting. Of what is she symbolic?
The people on the right are mourning the failure of the 1820 rising. Two of the three faces are covered. All three show despair. The strike had not been violent. In the background the leaders, Baird and Hardie are shown being executed.
Th hoods over their heads have been painted in red. What do these remind you of? Why is this ironic?