Old Photograph High Street Alloa Scotland

Old photograph of shops, people and buildings on the High Street in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland. David Allan was born in Alloa on 13 February 1744. On leaving Foulis's Academy of painting at Glasgow, 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. Returning from Rome in 1777, he lived for a time in London, England, and occupied himself with portrait-painting. In 1780 he moved 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. In his final years Allan lived at the head of Dicksons Close on the Royal Mile, east of the Tron Kirk.[5] The handsome house was thought to have been built by Robert Mylne in the 17th century.[6] David Allan died in Edinburgh on 6 August 1796.


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