Skip to main content
Head of a Man Looking Down by Sir William Allan
Head of a Man Looking Down - Study for The Shepherd's Grace
Head of a Man Looking Down by Sir William Allan
Head of a Man Looking Down by Sir William Allan

Head of a Man Looking Down - Study for The Shepherd's Grace

Artist (Edinburgh, Scotland, 1782 - 1850)
Datec.1826
Mediumred, black and white chalk on paper
ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings
DimensionsOverall: Height: 16 cm, Width: 12.8 cm
Frame: Height: 55.8 cm, Width: 40.5 cm
AcquisitionPurchased in 1960.
CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG003309
About MeThis chalk drawing is a preparatory study for the oil painting "The Shepherd's Grace" (c.1826). During his lifetime Allan's gift for landscape painting was recognised, although sadly very few examples have survived. Those that do feature the picturesque qualities of the Scottish countryside as a backdrop to a more figurative foreground, as in "The Shepherd's Grace". With a lightness of touch that makes the most of the chalk medium, Allan renders the shepherd in a manner that befits the painting's title. In its understated romance and pastoral serenity, it is related by mood and subject to David Wilkie's "The Gentle Shepherd" (1823), also held in the Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums Collections.
More About Me

This is a study for The Shepherds Grace. Aberdeen has many studies like this one in its collection, and they provide a great insight into an artist’s process.

Head of a Young Man Glancing Down - Study for The Battle of Waterloo
Head of a Young Man Glancing Down - Study for The Battle of Waterloo
Sir William Allan
c.1843
Head Of A Man Looking Upwards by Sir William Allan
Head of a Man Looking Upwards - Study for Heroism and Humanity
Sir William Allan
c.1840
Head Of A Bald Man by Sir William Allan
Head of a Bald Man - Study for Lord Patrick Lindsay of the Byres and Lord William Ruthven compelling Mary, Queen of Scots to sign her Abdication in the Castle of Loch Leven
Sir William Allan
c.1824
Studies Of Head And Hands Of A Circassian As Though Gripping A Sword by Sir William Allan
Heads and Hands - Study for The Battle of Prestonpans
Sir William Allan
c.1842
Head of a Circassian Chief - Study for Slave Market, Constantinople
Head of a Circassian Chief - Study for Slave Market, Constantinople
Sir William Allan
1830
Head of a Cavass - Study for Slave Market, Constantinople
Head of a Cavass - Study for Slave Market, Constantinople
Sir William Allan
1830
Head of a Bearded Young Man - Study for The Stolen Child Recovered
Head of a Bearded Young Man - Study for The Stolen Child Recovered
Sir William Allan
c.1840
Head of a Turk - Study for Slave Market, Constantinople
Head of a Turk - Study for Slave Market, Constantinople
Sir William Allan
1830
Man with Hand Upraised - Study for The Landing of Mary, Queen of Scots at Leith
Man with Hand Upraised - Study for The Landing of Mary, Queen of Scots at Leith
Sir William Allan
c.1826
Head of a Soldier - Study for The Landing of Mary, Queen of Scots at Leith
Head of a Soldier - Study for The Landing of Mary, Queen of Scots at Leith
Sir William Allan
c.1826
Boy Blowing A Trumpet by Sir William Allan
Boy Blowing a Bugle - Study for The Landing of Mary, Queen of Scots at Leith
Sir William Allan
c.1826
Study for 'The Star of Bethlehem' by Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones
Study for 'The Star of Bethlehem'
Sir Edward Coley Burne-Jones
1875-1899
Study for a Group of Recruiting Soldiers in "A Scotch Fair" by John Phillip
Study for a Group of Recruiting Soldiers in "A Scotch Fair"
John Phillip
Study for "Drawing for the Militia"
Study for "Drawing for the Militia"
John Phillip
1849
Study for "A Scotch Fair" by John Phillip
Study for "A Scotch Fair"
John Phillip
1848
Parents Presenting the Child - Study for "Baptism In Scotland"
Parents Presenting the Child - Study for "Baptism In Scotland"
John Phillip
1850
Study for "A Scotch Fair"
Study for "A Scotch Fair"
John Phillip
Man Putting Something Into a Chest - Study for "Drawing for the Militia" and verso: Figure Studies
Man Putting Something Into a Chest - Study for "Drawing for the Militia" and verso: Figure Studies
John Phillip
c. 1849
Man Being Examined - Study for "Drawing for the Militia" & verso Study of Robert The Bruce
Man Being Examined - Study for "Drawing for the Militia" & verso Study of Robert The Bruce
John Phillip
1849
An Elderly Couple and a Woman with a Child - Study for "Baptism In Scotland" and verso: Figure Studies
An Elderly Couple and a Woman with a Child - Study for "Baptism In Scotland" and verso: Figure Studies
John Phillip
c. 1850
A Judge - Study for "Drawing for the Militia" & verso: Life Study
A Judge - Study for "Drawing for the Militia" & verso: Life Study
John Phillip
1849
A Guitarist - Study for "Life Among the Gypsies" & verso Mother and Child - for "A Highland Interior"
A Guitarist - Study for "Life Among the Gypsies" & verso Mother and Child - for "A Highland Interior"
John Phillip
1852
A Soldier in Uniform - Study for "Drawing for the Militia" & verso:Study of Hands
A Soldier in Uniform - Study for "Drawing for the Militia" & verso:Study of Hands
John Phillip
1849
Sketch for the Prince Consort Mounted on Horseback
Sketch for the Prince Consort Mounted on Horseback
John Phillip