Carte Saint Brigid of Ireland With White Cow

A quiet, reverent scene is rendered in the sinuous, decorative lines of late-19th/early-20th-century illustration. At the center, St Brigid in a flowing white gown stands beside a large, gentle cow. The woman’s hand resting lightly on the cow’s muzzle suggests a calm companionship. The color palette is restrained and harmonious: soft creams contrast with muted greens, while delicate linework defines both figures and ornament. The overall effect is serene and slightly timeless, part mythic portrait, part pastoral allegory. In pre-Christian Ireland, 1 February, Brigid of Kildare's feast day, was the date of the Imbolc festival, a holiday associated with the beginning of spring. A traditional Gaelic festival halfway between the winter solstice and the spring equinox. © ‎Wednesday, ‎January ‎14, ‎2026, ‏‎10:00:43 AM Tracey Harrington Simpson