Supporters of the Day: Lions

Today's supporters are the amiable Lions of the Clan Chief, Roderick MacNeil of Barra - "two lions Proper standing on a scroll".  This painting, which dates from 1824, gives the lie to the lack of skill often unfairly levelled at the early 19th century herald painters. The Herald Painter given for the period 1823-1832 is Robert McInnes. The two usual criticisms are firstly that supporters are often shown on "gas-brackets", but here they just stand rather elegantly on the motto scroll, and secondly that there is too much landscape painting but to my mind the castle on the sea in the second quarter (Argent in base the sea with a castle above the sea Proper) is rather a lovely enhancement.

Incidentally, the blazon for the fourth quarter is Or, a dexter hand erect couped within an Orle of nine fetterlocks Gules.