David Allan | |
|---|---|
 Self-portrait, 1770 | |
| Born | (1744-02-13)13 February 1744 Alloa,Clackmannanshire, Scotland |
| Died | (1796-08-06)6 August 1796 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Resting place | Old Calton Burial Ground, Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Alma mater | Foulis Academy |
David Allan (13 February 1744 – 6 August 1796) was aScottish painter,limner, and illustrator, best known for historical subjects andgenre works.
He was born inAlloa in central Scotland. On leaving Foulis's Academy of painting atGlasgow (1762), after seven years' successful study, he obtained the patronage ofCharles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart and ofErskine of Mar, on whose estate he had been born. In 1764 Erskine made it possible for Allan to travel toRome. He remained in Italy until 1777, studying underGavin Hamilton and copying the old masters.
In 1771 Allan sent two history paintings,Pompey the Great after his Defeat andCleopatra Weeping Over the Ashes of Mark Antony (both now lost) to the exhibition of theRoyal Academy of Arts in London. In 1773, still in Rome, hisHector’s Farewell from Andromache won theAccademia di San Luca's gold medal.[1]
Among the original works which he then painted was theOrigin of Painting, now in theNational Gallery of Scotland — representing aCorinthian maid drawing her lover's shadow — well known throughDomenico Cunego's engraving. This won him the gold medal given by the Accademia di San Luca in 1773 for the best specimen of historical composition. While in Italy he also visited the kingdom of Naples, where he was well received by the British ambassadorSir William Hamilton, who was brother-in-law to Allan's patron Lord Cathcart. Allan made many lively drawings of street life in Rome and Naples.
Returning from Rome in 1777, he lived for a time inLondon, and occupied himself with portrait-painting. In 1780 he removed toEdinburgh, where, on the death ofAlexander Runciman in 1786, he was appointed director and master of the Academy of Arts. He set up at Writers Court next to the City Chambers.[2] There he painted and etched inaquatint a variety of works, including those by which he is best known, such asScotch Wedding,Highland Dance,Repentance Stool and hisIllustrations of the Gentle Shepherd (based onAllan Ramsay's poemThe Gentle Shepherd[3]). He was sometimes called the "ScottishHogarth", although he lacked Hogarth's satirical qualities.[1] Among his students wasAlexander Carse whose early works show Allan's influence.[4] He also produced illustrations for a version ofJames Macpherson'sOssian poems.[1]
_Headstone_Edinburgh.jpg)
In his final years Allan lived at the head of Dicksons Close on theRoyal Mile, east of theTron Kirk.[5] The handsome house was thought to have been built byRobert Mylne in the 17th century.[6] David Allan died in Edinburgh on 6 August 1796.[1] His grave is located in theOld Calton Burial Ground. The headstone, which features a portrait relief, was paid for and erected by theRoyal Scottish Academy.
Allan also self-published several works, which combined the poetry of others with his own illustrations: "The Gentle Shepherd" and "The Cotter's Saturday Night".[7]
He married on 15 November 1788 but his wife's name is not recorded.[8]
Media related toDavid Allan (painter) at Wikimedia Commons
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