Joseph Denovan Adam RSA 1842-1896

J. Denovan Adam, R.S.A., was born at Glasgow in 1842, but early in life was taken by his parents to London, where he received his early education as an artist from his father, who was a landscape painter. He studied afterwards for some time at Kensington, making frequent sketching tours in Scotland, especially in the Highlands, with his father. He showed a decided preference for animal painting, especially Highland cattle, and many of his best- known works represent these in their native surroundings.

 In 1871 he took up his residence permanently in Scotland, and in 1887 he established a school at Craigmill, near Stirling, for the study of Animal painting. He first exhibited in the Royal Scottish Academy in 1868, and among his numerous works may be mentioned, “ Herding the Kye,” “ Looking for Orders,” “The Cottar’s Daughter, “Within the Fold,” “Highland Stots,’ “ Sunset, Craigel- lachie,’? “Highland Interior,” “ Calves,” “Balmoral, the Queen’s Highland Home.”

 He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1884, and an Academician in 1892. He was awarded medals for his works exhibited in Munich in 1892 ; and in 1894 the French Government did him the honour of offering to purchase one of his works, “ Evening Strathspey,” exhibited in the Salon, which, however, he had to decline, as the picture in question was his Diploma Work, the property of the Academy. His death took place at Glasgow on the 22nd April.

Obituary, 1896 RSA Annual Report