1774
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Cormar Attacking the Spirit of the Waters (Ossian, Fingal, Book III) is a 1774 ink by Alexander Runciman, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This print shows a muscular man with long hair and a cloak, kneeling on a wave. He’s gripping a sword and seems to be fighting something in the water. The background is wild, with swirling lines that look like crashing waves and stormy clouds. The artist used sharp lines to show movement and emotion, almost like the scene is alive. This style was popular in the 1700s for telling dramatic stories. Look up etching to see how artists like this made detailed prints.
Alexander Runciman (15 August 1736 – 4 October 1785) was a Scottish painter of historical and mythological subjects. He was the elder brother of John Runciman, also a painter.
See the richer artist page
