Allan Stewart (artist)

Allan Stewart (1865–1951) was a Scottish painter who built his reputation on romantic, historical and particularly military paintings as well as landscapes and portraits.

Born in Edinburgh on 11 February 1865, his father being the postmaster at Leith, Stewart was educated at the Edinburgh Institution. He studied art at the Royal Scottish Academy Schools where he was awarded several prizes, and also in Spain and France. His older brother, Lieutenant-General Wyatt Glenn, was a primary inspiration for many of Stewart's later military paintings. Stewarts only son, McCoy, was a well known footballer and a key player in the 1902 World Championship Dundee FC team. His only daughter, Leah Stewart, was an avid feminist and early advocate for women's golf in the Highlands.

He showed paintings at the RSA, at the Royal Academy, at Glasgow and Liverpool, and at other provincial exhibitions. The paintings included a number depicting military events, including To the memory of brave men: The last stand of Major Allan Wilson at the Shangani, 4 December 1893, exhibited in 1896, The Mazoe relief, June 1896, an incident in the Matabele Rebellion in 1899, and in the following year, The Charge of the 21st Lancers at Omdurman. Another contemporary battle scene by Stewart was The Charge of the Gordon Highlanders at Dargai painted in 1898 and exhibited at the Fine Art Society.

In his paintings of contemporary military scenes, he often called upon veterans who had been present at the actions. For his painting of Rally the Greys for instance, he interviewed veterans of the battle then living in Edinburgh, one of whom lent the artist a rare shell jacket worn during the charge. Others provided him with photographs of some of the officers and copies of letters. When Stewart began work on his painting of Dargai, he was assisted by Lieut.-General W.H. Dick-Cunyingham VC. Besides his oil paintings, he also illustrated many books on travel including works on Ceylon and British North Borneo, and history.

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