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Christmas Eve by Sir William Allan
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve by Sir William Allan
Christmas Eve by Sir William Allan

Christmas Eve

Artist (Edinburgh, Scotland, 1782 - 1850)
Mediumoil on panel
ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings
DimensionsOverall: Height: 73.5 cm, Width: 90.2 cm
Frame: Height: 87.9 cm, Width: 124.3 cm
AcquisitionPurchased in 1954 with income from the Webster Bequest.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG002285
Other Titles
  • The Penny Wedding
About MeWhen this painting was purchased for the collection in 1954 it was described as a 'Penny Wedding'. Surprisingly, the references to Christmas, the mistletoe, the holly and the unplucked turkey, were completely overlooked. The similarity in composition to Sir David Wilkie's 'Penny Wedding' of 1818 accounts for this mis-identification. Allan was a great friend and admirer of Wilkie and in later years succeeded him as Limner to the Queen in Scotland. He must have known Wilkie's painting and may even have had it in mind when he painted this picture.

After the Reformation the church had opposed the celebration of Yule and even until relatively recent times many people in Scotland thought Christmas a time to "fast and pray" rather than to "feast and play". However, Sir William Allan's friend and patron, Sir Walter Scott, was a great advocate of Christmas and in the introduction to the Sixth Canto of "Marmion" he describes the traditional celebration of Christmas Eve, as kept by his family. It is tempting to think that Allan's painting might have been inspired by these lines from Scott's poem.

The damsel dorned her kirtle sheen;
The hall was dressed with holly green;
Forth to the wood did merry-men go,
To gather in the mistletoe.
Then opened wide the baron's hall
To vassel, tennent, serf and all;

More About Me

What references to Christmas can you see in this work? It was originally identified as a 'Penny Wedding' but was later corrected to a more festive event.