Homecoming: A gift from Canada
9th October 2009
The Hunterian has recently been presented with a fine ‘conversation piece’, painted by Scottish artist David Allan (1744 – 1796). The previously undocumented painting, titled ‘The Spreull Family’, will go on public exhibition for the first time from 9 October 2009.
David Allan was a star pupil at the famous Foulis Academy in Glasgow in the second half of the 18th century. He went on to become a successful history, genre and portrait painter, and was the first to introduce genre painting and ‘conversation pieces’ or group portraits, usually of families in contemporary, informal settings, to Scotland.
‘The Spreull Family’ is a valuable addition to the Hunterian collections and a wonderful example of Allan’s late family ‘conversation pieces’. It was commissioned around 1793 by the Spreull family, one of the oldest west of Scotland families with strong connections with Glasgow and the University. The painting was taken to Canada by the family in the 1920s and has remained with them until now. It was given to the University in memory and honour of Marilyn Malmquist’s mother and grandfather, Marion Helen (Spreull) Burns and George John Spreull.
To celebrate its return home, ‘The Spreull Family’ will go on display from 9 October 2009, next to a group of works by David Allan from the University’s own collection. Prints on display will include ‘Neapolitan Dance’, 1773 – 1775 and illustrations from Allan’s pastoral comedy ‘The Gentle Shepherd’, published in 1788. Also on display will be Allan’s oil of ‘The Interior of the Foulis Academy of Fine Arts’ of c. 1761, which is an important record of the Academy in its early years.
Hunterian Art Gallery
University of Glasgow
82 Hillhead Street
Glasgow G12 8QQ
Open Monday – Saturday, 9.30am – 5.00pm
Closed Sundays and public holidays
Admission free