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Circle of David Allan (Alloa 1744-1796 Edinburgh) Curling, ice skating, and winter sports on a frozen loch, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags beyond; Winter sports on a frozen loch, possibly Duddingston Loch the first 45.5 x 60.5cm (17 15/16 x 23 13/16in).; the second 45 x 61cm (17 11/16 x 24in). (2) image 1
Circle of David Allan (Alloa 1744-1796 Edinburgh) Curling, ice skating, and winter sports on a frozen loch, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags beyond; Winter sports on a frozen loch, possibly Duddingston Loch the first 45.5 x 60.5cm (17 15/16 x 23 13/16in).; the second 45 x 61cm (17 11/16 x 24in). (2) image 2
Circle of David Allan (Alloa 1744-1796 Edinburgh) Curling, ice skating, and winter sports on a frozen loch, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags beyond; Winter sports on a frozen loch, possibly Duddingston Loch the first 45.5 x 60.5cm (17 15/16 x 23 13/16in).; the second 45 x 61cm (17 11/16 x 24in). (2) image 3
Circle of David Allan (Alloa 1744-1796 Edinburgh) Curling, ice skating, and winter sports on a frozen loch, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags beyond; Winter sports on a frozen loch, possibly Duddingston Loch the first 45.5 x 60.5cm (17 15/16 x 23 13/16in).; the second 45 x 61cm (17 11/16 x 24in). (2) image 4
Circle of David Allan (Alloa 1744-1796 Edinburgh) Curling, ice skating, and winter sports on a frozen loch, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags beyond; Winter sports on a frozen loch, possibly Duddingston Loch the first 45.5 x 60.5cm (17 15/16 x 23 13/16in).; the second 45 x 61cm (17 11/16 x 24in). (2) image 5
Circle of David Allan (Alloa 1744-1796 Edinburgh) Curling, ice skating, and winter sports on a frozen loch, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags beyond; Winter sports on a frozen loch, possibly Duddingston Loch the first 45.5 x 60.5cm (17 15/16 x 23 13/16in).; the second 45 x 61cm (17 11/16 x 24in). (2) image 6
Circle of David Allan (Alloa 1744-1796 Edinburgh) Curling, ice skating, and winter sports on a frozen loch, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags beyond; Winter sports on a frozen loch, possibly Duddingston Loch the first 45.5 x 60.5cm (17 15/16 x 23 13/16in).; the second 45 x 61cm (17 11/16 x 24in). (2) image 7
Lot 111

Circle of David Allan
(Alloa 1744-1796 Edinburgh)
Curling, ice skating, and winter sports on a frozen loch, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags beyond; Winter sports on a frozen loch, possibly Duddingston Loch the first 45.5 x 60.5cm (17 15/16 x 23 13/16in).; the second 45 x 61cm (17 11/16 x 24in). (2)

21 May 2025, 12:00 BST
Edinburgh

Sold for £5,760 inc. premium

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Circle of David Allan (Alloa 1744-1796 Edinburgh)

Curling, ice skating, and winter sports on a frozen loch, with Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags beyond; Winter sports on a frozen loch, possibly Duddingston Loch
two works
oil on canvas, one laid to board.
the first 45.5 x 60.5cm (17 15/16 x 23 13/16in).; the second 45 x 61cm (17 11/16 x 24in). (2)

Footnotes

Both of the present works depict the fun to be had on a frozen loch in 18th and 19th century Scotland. Most of those represented have turned out in smart clothing and it gives the impression that this is not only a place for fun and sport, but also somewhere to be seen.

Along with ice skating, one of the focal sports shown is curling, a national sport of Scotland which has been described as the 'Roarin' Game', with the roar coming from the noise of a granite stone as it travels over the ice, originally outside on frozen lochs. The exact origins of the game are unclear, but curling is widely believed to be one of the world's oldest team sports. The first rules were drawn up in Scotland, and they were formally adopted as the 'Rules in Curling' by the Grand Caledonian Curling Club, which was formed in Edinburgh in 1838 and became the sport's governing body. The present work predates this formalisation of the sport and therefore represents a rare, early depiction of the game. What is clear in these present depictions of the amateur game then, as it is now, is the sense of drama, excitement and humour that can be enjoyed in a curling match.

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