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 for several years engaged principally in 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 Corinthian maid drawing her lover's shadow. This won him the gold medal given by the Academy of St Luke in 1773 for the best specimen of historical composition. 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, such as "Scotch Wedding", "Highland Dance", "Repentance Stool" and his "Illustrations of the Gentle Shepherd", remarkable for their comic humour. He was sometimes called the "Scottish Hogarth".
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 for several years engaged principally in 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 Corinthian maid drawing her lover's shadow. This won him the gold medal given by the Academy of St Luke in 1773 for the best specimen of historical composition. 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, such as "Scotch Wedding", "Highland Dance", "Repentance Stool" and his "Illustrations of the Gentle Shepherd", remarkable for their comic humour. He was sometimes called the "Scottish Hogarth".
Inscription
DAVID ALLAN
Historical Painter
Born at Alloa, Feb 13 1744
Died at Edinburgh Aug 6 1796
Erected as a Tribute to his Memory
By
The Royal Scottish Academy
1874
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