What better way to spend an afternoon than
in an art gallery! And since we’re in the midst of our virtual tour of
Scotland, we’ve done some digging to find you the best galleries in the
country. Of course, we couldn’t choose just one...so you get three!
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via Flickr by Moyan Brenn |
National Galleries of Scotland
Visiting Information: Open Daily
The National Galleries of Scotland is
actually made up of three galleries located in Edinburgh as well as two partner
galleries located outside the city. You will find the Scottish National
Gallery, Scottish National Portrait Gallery and the Scottish National Gallery
of Modern Art within Edinburgh; Paxton House located in Berwickshire and Duff
House in Banff are the National Galleries’ two partnering galleries. The
National Galleries primary purpose is to present a vivid picture of Scotland’s
art from the turn of the sixteenth century to present day.
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via Flickr by Spencer Means |
Right now the National Galleries have a
selection of interesting temporary exhibits which include a portrait series
focused on the relationship between Roland Penrose, Lee Miller, and Pablo Picasso, a newly assembled grouping of works by American artist Roy Lichtenstein, as well as a display of highly celebrated Scottish painter David Roberts. The National Galleries show their selections from
the Scottish collections “within a wider international context,” so they often
have visiting international exhibits.
Perth Museum & Art Gallery
Visiting Information: Open Tuesday through
Sunday
The Perth Museum & Art Gallery holds a
recognized collection of national significance, which can be further divided
into the art gallery, social history, and the national history. This gallery is
home to many permanent collections, including a diverse natural history
collection, a photographic collection surrounding life in Perth and Perthshire,
and an archaeology collection that spans over 10,000 years of history.
This museum and art gallery has a history spanning
almost 200 years! This Marshall Monument is one of the oldest purpose-built
museum buildings in the United Kingdom, and was first opened by the Antiquarian
Society of Perth in 1824 as a museum and library. In 1915 the Society gifted
the building to the city with the understanding that it would remain a public
museum and library.
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via Flickr by John Lord |
At present, the Perth Museum & Art
Gallery is housing a number of interesting temporary exhibits, which include a
collection of artwork from Perth nursery, primary and secondary school
students, an exploration of medieval “bling,” and an in-depth look at the ways
in which clay was used to shape many Scottish buildings and artifacts.
The McManus
Visiting Information: Open Daily
Located in Dundee, the McManus Museum & Art Gallery has been the hub of the arts and culture scene in the city since
1867. The McManus collection finds its home in an impressive Gothic
Revival-style building and totals approximately 150,000 items of all different
shapes and sizes.
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via Flickr by MolybdenuM 91 |
The McManus permanent collection includes
artifacts which detail the local community’s history, decorative arts and
crafts (including a variety of ceramics, porcelain and art glass), and a wide
array of fine art. Of significant importance is the exceptional selection of
nineteenth and twentieth century Scottish art, and especially the work of
notable Dundee artists, John Duncan and James McIntosh Patrick.
Do
you have a favourite Scottish art gallery? Tell us about it in the comments
below.