Cathy Duncan

I am a Linocut printmaker who bases her prints on sketches that I make from observations in real life. I was delighted to be allocated Corbridge Roman Town as I live close by and have visited it on many occasions. Northern Print’s Hadrian 1900 exhibition gave me the incentive to really look and draw the marvellous artefacts in the museum.

I chose ones that most appealed to me, so rather an assortment of everyday objects and some that would have decorative or religious significance to the occupants. I always felt the presence of the soldiers and townsfolk of the fort, so I wanted to include people in my design. Luckily I had sketched in Pre Covid days “ The Ermine Street Guards”, ( an authentic Roman re-enactment society) when they visited Vindolanda. Having observed the tableaux at Corbridge Museum my design includes the Guards within columns and a “coiled rope”frame with the artefacts depicted around them.

Red was the colour worn by the Guards- with the Boar a symbol of the 20th Legion, who were based in Corbridge. The blue grey colour was reminiscent of the famous silver Corbridge Lanx found on the site.