Sir William Allan RA (1782-1850)

• Was a Scottish historical painter.
• Allan was born in Edinburgh, the son of William Allan Snr., macer, an officer of the Court of Session.

• He was apprenticed to a coach-painter, and studied under John Graham at the Trustees' Academy, with David Wilkie, John Burnet, and Alexander George Fraser.

• Allan and Wilkie were placed at the same table, and contracted a lifelong friendship.

• After a few years he came to London, and entered the schools of the Royal Academy.

• In 1805 he travelled, by ship, to Russia.

• At the Russian capital he found friends, including Sir Alexander Crichton, physician to the imperial family.

• In 1809 his picture Russian Peasants keeping their Holiday was exhibited at the Royal Academy. 

• Allan returned to Edinburgh in 1814.

• In 1826 Allan was appointed master of the Trustees' School, Edinburgh.

• In 1835 he was elected a Royal Academician, and in 1838 was made president of the Royal Scottish Academy.

• In 1841 he went to St. Petersburg, and in the same year succeeded Wilkie as limner to the queen in Scotland, an office which was, as usual, followed (in 1842) by a knighthood.

• He died of Bronchitis at his Edinburgh home on 23 February 1850.

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