A Highland Dance David Allan 1780

A Highland Dance
David Allan 1780
From the collection of
National Galleries of Scotland
This 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.
Details
Title: A Highland Dance
Creator: David Allan
Date Created: 1780
Physical Dimensions: w804 x h294 cm (Without frame)
Credit Line: Purchased by the Patrons of the National Galleries of Scotland 1990
Type: Drawing
Rights: http://www.nationalgalleries.org/shop/commercial-and-non-commercial-reproduction/article/copyright-and-reproduction-of-works
External Link: National Galleries of Scotland http://www.nationalgalleries.org/object/D%205185
Medium: Brush and watercolour over pencil on paper

National Galleries of Scotland
Edinburgh, United Kingdom

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David Allan
Feb 13, 1744 - Aug 6, 1796

David Allan was a Scottish painter and illustrator, best known for historical subjects and genre works. He was born at Alloa in central Scotland. On leaving Foulis's academy of painting at Glasgow, 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, where he remained until 1777, studying under Gavin Hamilton and copying the old masters.
In 1771 he sent two history paintings, Pompey the Great after his Defeat and Cleopatra Weeping Over the Ashes of Mark Antony to the Royal Academy exhibition in London. In 1773, still in Rome, his Hector’s Farewell from Andromache won the Accademia di S Luca's gold medal.
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—well known through Domenico Cunego's excellent engraving. This won him the gold medal given by the Academy of St Luke in the year 1773 for the best specimen of historical composition.
http://hisour.com/art-medium/paintings/a-highland-dance-david-allan-1780/