About this artwork
This was painted in Rome at a time when the discovery of lost, ancient Graeco-Roman sculptures and mural paintings was exciting great interest in the artistic world. Greek or Roman subject matter was adopted by many artists. Here, Allan has chosen to illustrate a charming anecdote by the ancient Roman author Pliny, claiming that the art of painting had first been invented by a Corinthian girl who traced the outline of her lover's shadow on the wall before he went into battle.
Updated before 2020
-
artist:David Allan (1744 - 1796) Scottish
-
title:The Origin of Painting ('The Maid of Corinth')
-
date created:Dated (on the back) 1775
-
materials:Oil on panel
-
measurements:Image (oval): 38.70 x 31.00 cm; Framed: 51.20 x 44.00 x 6.60 cm / 5.00 kg
-
object type:
-
credit line:Presented by Mrs Byres of Tonley 1875
-
accession number:NG 612
-
gallery:
David Allan
David Allan
Allan was born in Alloa, on the River 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...