This painting, The Riders of the Sidhe, was completed in 1911 by Dundonian John Duncan. It’s the masterpiece of the Celtic Revival movement, which was headed by Duncan. In Celtic myth, the Sidhe are the fairy folk. Each year, on Midsummer Night, the Sidhe ride forth to the sacred circle, to initiate mortals into the mysteries of their faith. The artist explained the symbolism in this painting when he wrote: "Each rider carries a symbol of age-long Celtic tradition. The Tree of Life means wisdom. The Love-Cup, the Grail cup of the heart of abundance and healing, is the symbol of Love. The Sword is the symbol of power or the will in action. The Stone of Quietness is the symbol of the will in its passive form, the crystal that reveals the past and the future." You may have noticed the swastika on the horse's harness. This is an ancient symbol of Life, Sun, Strength and Good Luck. This richly symbolic painting, steeped in Celtic mythology, is arguably Duncan’s best and most ambitious work. When you’re ready, there are two ways to leave The Victoria Gallery. You can go through the middle door into the 20th Century and Here and Now Galleries, where you’ll find a range of different displays. Or you can leave the Victoria Gallery through the right hand door to the stairwell where you first entered. Head right, into the Long Gallery.