David Allan
Encyclopedia
David Allan was a Scottish
painter, best known for historical subjects.
He was born at Alloa
in central Scotland. On leaving Foulis's academy of painting at Glasgow
(1762), after seven years' successful study, he obtained the patronage of Lord Cathcart and of Erskine of Mar
, on whose estate he had been born. Erskine made it possible for him to travel to Rome
(1764), where he remained until 1777, studying under Gavin Hamilton
and copying the old masters.
Among the original works which he then painted was the "Origin of Portraiture", now in the National Gallery
at Edinburgh--representing a Corinth
ian maid drawing her lover's shadow--well known through Domenico Cunego
's excellent engraving. This won him the gold medal given by the Academy of St Luke in the year 1773 for the best specimen of historical composition. While in Italy he also visited the kingdom of Naples, where he was well received by Lord Cathcart's brother, Sir William Hamilton, British ambassador. Allan made many lively drawings of street life in Rome and Naples.
Returning from Rome in 1777, he lived for a time in London
, and occupied himself with portrait-painting. In 1780 he removed to Edinburgh
, where, on the death of Alexander Runciman
in 1786, he was appointed director and master of the Academy of Arts. There he painted and etched in aquatint
a variety of works, those by which he is best known--such as "Scotch Wedding", "Highland Dance", "Repentance Stool" and his "Illustrations of the Gentle Shepherd"--being remarkable for their comic humour. He was sometimes called the "Scottish Hogarth
".
His grave can be found at the Old Calton Burial Ground in Edinburgh. The headstone, which features a portrait relief, was paid for and erected by the Royal Scottish Academy
.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
painter, best known for historical subjects.
Alloa
Alloa is a town and former burgh in Clackmannanshire, set in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. It lies on on the north bank of the Firth of Forth close to the foot of the Ochil Hills, east of Stirling and north of Falkirk....
in central Scotland. On leaving Foulis's academy of painting at Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
(1762), after seven years' successful study, he obtained the patronage of Lord Cathcart and of Erskine of Mar
Earl of Mar
The Mormaer or Earl of Mar is a title that has been created seven times, all in the Peerage of Scotland. The first creation of the earldom was originally the provincial ruler of the province of Mar in north-eastern Scotland...
, on whose estate he had been born. Erskine made it possible for him to travel to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
(1764), where he remained until 1777, studying under Gavin Hamilton
Gavin Hamilton
Gavin Hamilton was an early modern Scottish prelate, coadjutor of the Archdiocese of St. Andrews, and Archbishop of St. Andrews.Gavin was the son of James Hamilton of Raploch. He had been Abbot of Kilwinning. In 1555, he was appointed as the coadjutor, i.e. successor, of Archbishop John Hamilton of...
and copying the old masters.
Among the original works which he then painted was the "Origin of Portraiture", now in the National Gallery
National Gallery of Scotland
The National Gallery of Scotland, in Edinburgh, is the national art gallery of Scotland. An elaborate neoclassical edifice, it stands on The Mound, between the two sections of Edinburgh's Princes Street Gardens...
at Edinburgh--representing a Corinth
Corinth
Corinth is a city and former municipality in Corinthia, Peloponnese, Greece. Since the 2011 local government reform it is part of the municipality Corinth, of which it is the seat and a municipal unit...
ian maid drawing her lover's shadow--well known through Domenico Cunego
Domenico Cunego
Domenico Cunego was an Italian printmaker.Cunego was born at Verona. Having studied under the otherwise-unknown painter Francesco Ferrari, he began his artistic career as a painter, producing several works, all of which are now lost or untraceable. Aged 18, however, he switched to engraving...
's excellent engraving. This won him the gold medal given by the Academy of St Luke in the year 1773 for the best specimen of historical composition. While in Italy he also visited the kingdom of Naples, where he was well received by Lord Cathcart's brother, Sir William Hamilton, British ambassador. Allan made many lively drawings of street life in Rome and Naples.
Returning from Rome in 1777, he lived for a time in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, and occupied himself with portrait-painting. In 1780 he removed to Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, where, on the death of Alexander Runciman
Alexander Runciman
Alexander Runciman was a Scottish painter of historical and mythological subjects. He was the elder brother of John Runciman, also a painter....
in 1786, he was appointed director and master of the Academy of Arts. There he painted and etched in aquatint
Aquatint
Aquatint is an intaglio printmaking technique, a variant of etching.Intaglio printmaking makes marks on the matrix that are capable of holding ink. The inked plate is passed through a printing press together with a sheet of paper, resulting in a transfer of the ink to the paper...
a variety of works, those by which he is best known--such as "Scotch Wedding", "Highland Dance", "Repentance Stool" and his "Illustrations of the Gentle Shepherd"--being remarkable for their comic humour. He was sometimes called the "Scottish Hogarth
William Hogarth
William Hogarth was an English painter, printmaker, pictorial satirist, social critic and editorial cartoonist who has been credited with pioneering western sequential art. His work ranged from realistic portraiture to comic strip-like series of pictures called "modern moral subjects"...
".
His grave can be found at the Old Calton Burial Ground in Edinburgh. The headstone, which features a portrait relief, was paid for and erected by the Royal Scottish Academy
Royal Scottish Academy
The Royal Scottish Academy is a Scottish organisation that promotes contemporary Scottish art. Founded in 1826, as the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, the RSA maintains a unique position in Scotland as an independently funded institution led by eminent artists and...
.