david morier's well-known painting of the highland charge at the battle of culloden (right) shows the clansmen wearing various tartans. the setts painted all differ from one another and very few of those painted resemble any of today's clan tartans. it is maintained by many that clan tartans were not in use at the time of the battle of culloden in 1746. the method of identifying friend from foe was not through tartans but by the colour of ribbon worn upon the bonnet.