The Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife | Interpretation, meaning, and hidden secrets

Paintings, like history, can be interpreted in many different ways, and debate surrounds the interpretation of this marriage scene.

On one side of the debate are those who believe that Maclise wanted to express his sympathies with the Irish nationalist cause by painting this story: a story which had become particularly resonant for nineteenth-century nationalists who believed it signified England’s first advances into the country. However, others believe that the painting is simply an exercise in high drama and theatricality of a kind that Maclise particularly enjoyed painting.

Those who believe that it was simply the dramatic and theatrical subject matter which appealed to Maclise point to the fact that the painting was executed as part of a commission for the new Houses of Parliament in London, and it was favourably received by the public when exhibited at the Royal Academy. It seems unlikely that the Fine Arts Commission would have stood behind a painting even vaguely critical of British actions in Ireland. Maclise was a successful artist in England – why would he risk his career and reputation? Is it more likely that this historical event provided Maclise with the perfect opportunity to indulge his love of drama and spectacle? 

Those who favour a nationalist interpretation call attention to a variety of details in the painting, from the dark and stormy sky, to Strongbow’s foot planted firmly on top of a toppled cross, as outlined below.