Allan, David (1744-1796: artist)

David Allan ( 1744-1796 ), artist, who was known as the Scottish Hogarth, was born in Alloa, Clackmannanshire. He studied at the Foulis Academy, Glasgow and then in Rome where he trained under Gavin Hamilton. From 1777 he worked in London as a portrait painter and then moved to Edinburgh to take up a post at the Edinburgh Academy of Arts, where he became Director in 1786 . Amongst his better known works is the Penny Wedding ( 1795 ), his illustrations of Allan Ramsay's (c1685-1758) Gentle Shepherd ( 1725 ) and his illustrations of the work of Robert Burns (1759-1796).

From the guide to the Letter from David Allan, 1744-1796, artist, 1773, (Stirling University Library)