Lot Essay
The portrait is traditionally identified as of Ann Allan (nee Losh) with her daughter Matilda (c. 1808-1872). Ann Allan (1758-1846) is said to have been from Cumberland and was the wife of William Allan, a banker, of Hillside, Edinburgh. However, Mackie (op.cit.), who dates the portrait to circa 1815-18, points out that Ann Allan was about sixty at the time and that Matilda is therefore more likely to be her granddaughter rather than her daughter. The portrait was originally of larger format (81 x 57 1/2 ins.) before it was with Gallerie Heim. Alexander Allan also sat to Raeburn (Private collection, USA; Mackie, op.cit., no. 16.).
We are grateful to David Mackie of Cambridge University for his assistance with this catalogue entry.
We are grateful to David Mackie of Cambridge University for his assistance with this catalogue entry.