ALLAN, Sir WILLIAM, a distinguished Scottish historical painter, was b. in Edin burgh in 1782. He was educated at the high school; and having early displayed a taste for drawing, was entered as a pupil in the school of design connected with the royal institution, with the intention of becoming a coach-painter. Among his fellow-students and friends were David Wilkie, John Burnet, and others who afterwards rose to eminence. He subsequently studied for some time at the royal academy of London. Finding diffi culties in the way of professional advancement in the metropolis, he determined to go abroad ; and in 1805, set out for St. Petersburg, where the friendly interest of his countryman, Sir Alexander Crichton, the imperial family physician, soon procured him employment. In the Russian capital he spent several years, diligently pursuing his professional labors, and making occasional tours to the s. of Russia, the Crimea, Turkey, and Circassia, where he made numerous sketches, some of which supplied the materials of his best known works. In 1814, he returned to Edinburgh, and soon after exhibited his "Circassian Captives," a large picture, distinguished by the picturesqueness of the subject and the elaborate fidelity and spirit of its treatment. He had exhibited several pictures before this, but not till now was his reputation as an artist fairly established. The remuneration of his labors, however, was not so ready as the public acknowledg ment of their worth. The purchase of two of his pictures by the grand duke Nicholas, afterwards emperor, when on a visit to Edinburgh, contributed in no small degree to promote the sale of his works. A severe attack of ophthalmia obliged him for a time to suspend his exertions. He employed his leisure in visiting Italy, Turkey, Greece, and Asia On returning home he resumed his brush, and for many years labored with great assiduity. In 1826, lie was elected an associate of the London academy ; in
1835, an academician. In 1838, on the death of Mr. George Watson, the royal Scottish academy elected him as its president, and on the death of Sir David Wilkie in 1841, lie was appointed limner to her majesty for Scotland. He was at the same time knighted. At intervals he made excursions into the continent, visiting Spain and Morocco in 1834. St. Petersburg in 1841, and Germany and Belgium in 1847. At St. Petersburg, he received a commission from the emperor to paint a large picture of " Peter the Great teaching Shipbuilding to his Subjects ;" it was exhibited at London in 1845, and is now in the imperial winter palace. For some time before his death, he had been diligently working at a great picture of " Bruce at Bannockburn." He died in his painting-room, to which his bed had been removed, on the 22d of 850. The great merits of Sir W. A. as a painter consist in his conscientious fidelity, skill in composition, and the dramatic force of his representations. The impulse contributed by him to historical painting, especially of national subjects, entitles him to a very high place in the history of Scottish art. Among his chief works, many of which are well known through engravings, are " John Knox admonishing Queen Mary," 1823 ' • "Queen Mary signing her Abdication," 1824; "Death of the Regent Moray," 1825 ; " Polish Exiles," 1834 ; "The Slave-market at Constantinople," 1837 ; "Battle of Prestonpans," 1842 ; "Waterloo," two pictures, from the French and English positions, the first of which was bought by the duke of Wellington. •