1780
oil
canvas
From the collection of National Galleries Scotland
Lead Processing at Leadhills: Washing the Ore is a 1780 oil by David Allan, held at National Galleries Scotland.
This painting depicts a rustic, dimly lit room with a high, sloping ceiling and wooden walls. In the foreground, a large tub sits on the left, accompanied by a smaller tub and a basket on top. A man stands beside the tub, holding a basket in his right hand. On the right side of the room, another man is shown from the waist up, leaning over a trough with a long stick in his hand. The room is filled with scattered blue ore, and the atmosphere appears to be one of industriousness. The men are dressed in old-fashioned clothing, adding to the sense of a bygone era. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the scene. For more information on the artist's techniques, look up the technique of chiaroscuro.
David Allan (13 February 1744 – 6 August 1796) was a Scottish painter, limner, and illustrator, best known for historical subjects and genre works.
See the richer artist page
