J. Denovan Adam, R.S.A., was born in 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, ...