Lithographic portrait of Allan Cunningham, 1874
Back
Allan Cunningham, c 1840
- Introduction:
- Allan Cunningham was born at Keir, Dumfriesshire, his father had been a neighbour of Robert Burns when he farmed at Ellisland. In later life Cunningham claimed to remember hearing Burns recite Tam O' Shanter when he was just six years old.
- Image Rights Holder:
- Dumfries & Galloway Museums Service
- Ref:
- 223
- Project:
- 241:Robert Burns - People and Places
- Material:
- Paper
- Dimensions:
- Image - length: 112 mm, width: 78 mm
- What:
- Lithographic portrait of Allan Cunningham, 1874
- Subject:
- In 1834 he brought out, 'The Works of Robert Burns, with his Life' in eight volumes. Unfortunately his biography of Burns is flawed, giving a relatively accurate impression of the poet but containing many errors of fact about his life.
- Who:
- Robert Burns (1759-1796) (his biographer)
- Robert Anderson (22 Ann Street, Glasgow) (printer)
- John Anderson and Son (Dumfries) (publisher)
- Anthony C M'Bryde (grand nephew of the writer, Allan Cunningham) (artist and engraver)
- Allan Cunningham (1784-1842) (representation)
- When:
- c 1840 (portrait)
- 1875 (published)
- Where:
- Dumfries Museum, Dumfries & Galloway
- Background:
- In 1834 he brought out, 'The Works of Robert Burns, with his Life' in eight volumes. Unfortunately his biography of Burns is flawed, giving a relatively accurate impression of the poet but containing many errors of fact about his life.
- Description:
- Cunningham worked as a stone mason, but had a love of literature and was a friend of the Scottish writer, James Hogg. He collected traditional ballads and wrote songs, the best known of which is the sea song, 'A Wet Sheet and a Flowing Sea'. He went to London in 1810 and gradually established his reputation as a poet and journalist.