Free visits to National Galleries of Scotland

Currently sheltering in place or under lockdown? How about virtual visits to the the Scottish National Gallery and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Edinburgh! These two art museums are part of the National Galleries of Scotland. A third, not covered in this post, is the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art. Whenever covid-19 subsides and we can all travel freely again, and you’re into art museums, the National Galleries are a great place to go. Plus, they’re all free! (Some exhibitions charge a fee.)

1. Scottish National Gallery

Situated in the heart of Edinburgh, the Scottish National Gallery is a small but delightful museum. While Scottish artists are the main focus, the National Gallery also houses works of art from famous European artists.

Here are some of my favorites:

• The Skating Minister by Henry Raeburn
• Lady Agnew of Lochnaw by John Singer Sargent
• Art Cabinet with Anthony van Dyck’s ‘Mystic Marriage of St Catherine’ by Guillam van Haecht
• Still-life by Thomas Warrender
• Saint Bride by John Duncan
• The Campbell Sisters by Lorenzo Bartolini
• Orchard in Blossom (Plum Trees) by Vincent van Gogh
• Three Tahitians by Paul Gauguin
• A Lady in Grey by Sir Daniel Macnee

My all time favorite in the Scottish National Gallery

Originally commissioned in 1850, along with two other paintings, for the House of Lords in Westminster. When completed, the House of Commons refused to grant the 150£ to pay for the commission. Subsequently, sold to private collectors, The Monarch of the Glen changed hands among the aristocracy, until 1916 when Pears Soap acquired the painting for its advertising campaigns. According to Wikipedia,

It was sold on to John Dewar & Sons distillery and became their trademark before similarly being used by Glenfiddich. The painting was then acquired as part of the purchase of Dewar’s by Diageo. In 1997 Diageo sold Dewar’s to Bacardi but this did not include ancillary assets. Diageo then loaned the painting to the National Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. On 2 November 2016, Diageo announced their intention to sell the painting, as they stated it had “no direct link to our business or brands”.

Wikipedia

Valued in 2016 at £8 million, Diageo offered the National Galleries of Scotland The Monarch at half price, if it could raise the £4 million. Spoiler alert: it did.

As you can see, the painting is stunning and regal. Its history is an interesting one. And its likeness has been used by brands and companies for over a hundred years. To learn more about the painting, click here.

2. Scottish National Portrait Gallery

The museum holds about 3,000 portraits and sculptures, 38,000 photographs, and 25,000 prints and drawings. Following the Scottish Reformation, religious art fell out of fashion and paved the way for a pleathora of portraits. Portraiture was a luxury of nobility and royalty, as you’ll see in the photos below. Today, the gallery houses portraits of Scots, despite not necessarily being made by Scots.

Entryway

When you first walk in, you’re greeted in The Great Hall, by a massive mural, painted by William Hole. In 1898, he painted a processional frieze for the entrance hall, which shows over 150 heroes of Scotland on murals that decorate the arches on the ground floor. For more information, including the full frieze, click here.

On the first floor, added later, Hole painted a series of murals that depict important scenes from Scottish history. And finally, on the ceiling, beautiful constellations.

Royal Portraits

1. Queen Victoria by Franz Xaver Winterhalter
2. HM Queen Victoria by A.E. Chalon
3. Queen Victoria sculpted by Alexander and William Brodie
4. Portrait of His Imperial Majesty Nicolai II Alexandrvitch, Tsar of All the Russias by Valentin Serov
5. Mary, Queen of Scots by Unknown
6. Queen of Scots, Sovereign of The Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of The Thistle and Chief of The Chiefs photographed by Julian Calder

My 2 favorites in the National Portrait Gallery

The next two portraits, one painted, one photographed, stopped me in my track, as I went around the gallery. I did a double take with both of them. Although I recognized them, it took me a while to figure out how.

Ewen Bremner, a Scottish actor born in Edinburgh, is best known his role in Trainspotting. I’ve never seen it, but I remember him as Red from Pearl Harbor.

I give you, Ser Jorah Mormont. Just kidding… Iain Glen, also a Scottish actor born in Edinburgh, is most known for his work on Game of Thrones, as well as the Resident Evil series.

Why did I single out these two portraits? Walking through an art museum seeing portraits of only royals and people you don’t know or recognize, they were friendly faces and a welcome sight.

Parting Thoughts on the National Galleries of Scotland

The galleries are definitely worth a visit, especially if you’re looking for a free activity for an afternoon. As I mentioned before, these are two of the three Scottish National Galleries, with the other being the Scotland National Gallery of Modern Art. If you’re an art fan, take some time to visit one, two, or all three of them!

And since no one will be visiting in person during the time of covid, I hope you enjoyed your virtual tour of all my favorites! More importantly, stay safe!

Looking for other ideas in and around Edinburgh?

• How about a Food Tour to introduce yourself to Scottish food?
• Go on an Outlander adventure and visit the fictional Lallybroch and Castle Leoch;
• Visit the Queen’s official residence in Scotland – the Palace of Holyrood House;
• Follow in Dan Brown’s footsteps over to Rosslyn Chapel;
• Check out St. Andrews and the fishing villages of Fife.

And if you’re traveling to Edinburgh from London, what about going via an overnight sleeper train! Travel in comfort overnight on the Caledonian Sleeper from London to Glasgow, Edinburgh, Inverness, Fort William and Aberdeen!

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Lannie

Lannie is a perpetual wanderer and loves to share her travel adventures and the food she eats along the way with everyone.  She works during the day while bouncing around the world and dreams about new places and faces at night!  She has a home on the magical Isle of Islay in Scotland, where the whisky flows freely and happily.

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