He was born in
Alloa in central Scotland. On leaving Foulis's Academy of painting at
Glasgow (1762), after seven years' successful study, he obtained the patronage of
Charles Cathcart, 9th Lord Cathcart and of
Erskine of Mar, on whose 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. In 1771 Allan sent two history paintings,
Pompey the Great after his Defeat and
Cleopatra Weeping Over the Ashes of Mark Antony (both now lost) to the exhibition of the
Royal Academy of Arts in London. In 1773, still in Rome, his
Hector’s Farewell from Andromache won the
Accademia di San Luca's gold medal. 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 also produced illustrations for a version of
James Macpherson's
Ossian poems. The handsome house was thought to have been built by
Robert Mylne in the 17th century. David Allan died in Edinburgh on 6 August 1796. His grave is located in the
Old Calton Burial Ground. The headstone, which features a portrait relief, was paid for and erected by the
Royal Scottish Academy. ==Publications==