David Allen "The Scottish Hogarth" - Artist
David Allen "The Scottish Hogarth" - Artist
David Allen "The Scottish Hogarth" - Artist (13 February 1744 – 6 August 1796) was a Scottish painter, limner, and illustrator.
David Allen was born in Alloa in central Scotland.
He first attended Foulis’s Academy of painting in Glasgow. On leaving Foulis's Academy in 1762, after seven years successful study, he obtained the patronage of Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart and of Erskine of Mar. It had been on Lord Cathcart’s estate he had been born.
In 1764 Erskine made it possible for Allan to travel to Rome. He remained in Italy until 1777, studying under Gavin Hamilton and copying the old masters.
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. He set up at Writers Court next to the City Chambers.
There he painted and etched in aquatint a variety of works, including those by which he is best known, such as Scotch Wedding, Highland Dance, Repentance Stool and his Illustrations of the Gentle Shepherd (based on Allan Ramsay's poem The Gentle Shepherd ).
He was sometimes called the "Scottish Hogarth", although he lacked Hogarth's satirical qualities. However, we have a passion for his record of life during the Scottish enlightenment.
