David Allan
A Highland Danceabout 1780This beautiful watercolour of a Highland dance is full of joy and vitality. Allan was especially attracted to the image of dancing figures, and throughout his career he produced many drawings of peasants dancing. The graceful pose of the female figure to the right of the central group suggests that Allan was influenced by the classical figures that he encountered during the ten years that he lived in Rome. His natural ability for making rapid sketches of figures and costumes meant that he was often in demand as an illustrator of local festivals and events.
Glossary [2] Open
Classicism
A general term for art and architecture based on ancient Greek and Roman culture.
Watercolour
A paint with colouring and binding agents diluted with water. It has a transparent quality and is usually applied to paper.
- Accession no. D 5185
- Medium Brush and watercolour over pencil on paper
- Size 29.40 x 80.40 cm (framed: 51.90 x 101.50 x 2.30 cm)
- Credit Purchased by the Patrons of the National Galleries of Scotland 1990
David Allan (Scottish, 1744 - 1796)
Allan was born in Alloa, on the Firth of Forth, and attended the Foulis Academy in Glasgow for seven years. In 1767 he moved to Rome, where he lived for ten years; this was the most successful period of his life. In Rome Allan painted ambitious historical pictures, portraits, caricatures and genre scenes. On returning to London in 1777, he spent two years trying to establish himself. Unsuccessful and ill, he returned to Scotland where he specialised in painting family groups. He also produced book illustrations and was appointed master of the Trustees' Academy in Edinburgh.
Glossary [4] Open
Caricature
A portrait with the facial features exaggerated for comic or satirical effect.
Foulis Academy
An 18th century academy of art and design founded by the Glasgow printers and booksellers Robert and Andrew Foulis, who had assembled a collection of European paintings for teaching purposes. The academy was based at the University of Glasgow's old college buildings in High Street.
Genres
A French term that denotes different types of paintings, such as landscape, portrait or still life. The phrase ‘genre painting’ is used specifically to describe works depicting everyday scenes.
Trustees' Academy
The Trustees’ Academy was founded in Edinburgh in 1760 by the Board of Trustees for the Improvement of Fisheries and Manufactures in Scotland. This was the earliest publicly funded art school in Britain, but during the early years it was essentially an elementary drawing school dedicated to applied design. The students included practical craftsmen as well as fine artists. The school gradually developed more facilities for advanced fine art education, including a plaster cast collection. In 1826, it relocated to a new building on The Mound, which was erected by the Board. The Trustees’ Academy was reformed in 1858, using the well established government Schools of Design in London as its model, and was the direct ancestor of Edinburgh College of Art, established in 1907.