RSA Scottish Art
Illustration to “Contented wi’ Little”
 | Artist: David Allan |
| Title: Illustration to “Contented wi’ Little” | |
| Year: c. 1790 | |
| Medium: pencil & watercolour on paper | |
| Dimensions: | |
| Suggested topic: figure composition | |
| Source: RSA | |
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| Description: David Allan was one of the first painters in Scotland to record the everyday life of ordinary people and enjoyed a successful career as both an artist and a teacher of art. This sketch was made to illustrate a song by Robert Burns –Contented wi' little, & canty wi' mair,Whene'er I foregather wi' sorrow & care,I gie them a skelp as they're creeping alang,Wi' a cog of gude ale, & an auld Scottish sang.The drawing depicts the scene of a cheerful labourer singing away as his ale is poured. By keeping the setting and such details as costume to a minimum, Allan is careful not to lessen the effect of the illustration by putting in too much descriptive detail. The image literally shows the man dismissing “sorrow & care” and being contented with the little he has. Life would not be easy for a Scottish labourer in the 18th century, and Burns' poems often celebrate the spirit of the working man.This illustration is simply executed, with no attempt to make a highly finished image. The figures and furniture are solidly drawn but the colour is muted using subtle watercolour washes suggesting the lack of finery in a simple tavern. The man's cheerful expression has been very skillfully produced with only a few very bold lines. The way the woman pours the ale seems to suggest abundance and a carefree attitude. The oval frame around the edge allows us to focus in on the couple and creates a cosiness almost as though we are watching through a chink in the door. The mood of this picture is cheerful and light. It shows simple people enjoying a few good things in life and ignores the trappings of materialism. The woman is holding a key - could this be a key to happiness? How could you represent the idea of “Contented wi' little” in our modern world? What scene would depict a simple life with simple pleasures and little else? | |