Famous Masterpieces At The National Gallery Of Scotland

what famous paintings are in the national gallery edinburgh

The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh, Scotland, houses the country's national collection of fine art, including works by renowned artists such as Titian, Rembrandt, and Van Dyck. The neoclassical building, designed by William Henry Playfair, showcases Scottish and international art from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. Visitors can admire masterpieces like Titian's Bacchus and Ariadne, Van Dyck's portraits, and Benjamin West's Alexander III of Scotland Rescued from the Fury of a Stag. The gallery also boasts works by Scottish artists, such as Alexander Nasmyth's portrait of Robert Burns and landscapes by Sir Henry Raeburn.

Characteristics Values
Location The Mound in central Edinburgh, close to Princes Street
Building Design Neoclassical style by William Henry Playfair
Opening Year 1859
Collection Scotland's national collection of fine art, including Scottish and international art from the Renaissance to the 20th century
Notable Paintings Jacopo Bassano, Van Dyck, Giambattista Tiepolo, Benjamin West's Alexander III of Scotland Rescued from the Fury of a Stag, Rubens's The Feast of Herod, Titian's Diana and Actaeon and Diana and Callisto, Sandro Botticelli's Virgin Adoring the Sleeping Christ Child, Paul Cézanne's The Big Trees and Montagne Sainte-Victoire, Seurat's Bathers at Asnières, Titian's Bacchus and Ariadne, Jan van Eyck's The Arnolfini Portrait, Uccello's Battle of San Romano, Anthony van Dyck's Charles I, Rachel Ruysch's Flowers, Piero della Francesca's The Virgin and Child with Saints, Giovanni di Paolo's Saint John the Baptist in the Desert, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Velázquez, Berthe Morisot's In the Bois de Boulogne, Van Gogh's Sunflowers, etc.
Other Attractions Scottish galleries featuring works by William McTaggart, Anne Redpath, Phoebe Anna Traquair, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and the Glasgow Boys

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Works by Scottish artists

The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh houses Scotland's national collection of fine art, including works by Scottish artists from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. The gallery features several notable works by Scottish artists, including:

Alexander Nasmyth

Alexander Nasmyth is known as the "father of Scottish landscape painting". His most famous work is a portrait of the poet Robert Burns, commissioned by Edinburgh publisher William Creech in 1787. The painting depicts Burns in a confident and well-dressed state, with a trace of amusement around his eyes and lips. The background suggests Burns's native Ayrshire, adding a note of melancholy to the Romantic portrait.

Sir Henry Raeburn

Raeburn is known for his bold brushstrokes and use of dark contrasting colours. One of his most notable works is a portrait of Sir Walter Scott, depicting a man at the peak of his career and influence. This painting is considered one of Raeburn's greatest works, completed just before his death. Raeburn's decision to remain in Scotland influenced the development of his individual style and his leadership of the Scottish School of the period.

James Guthrie

The Scottish National Gallery also holds works by artists of the Glasgow School, including James Guthrie.

William McTaggart, Anne Redpath, Phoebe Anna Traquair, Charles Rennie Mackintosh, and the Glasgow Boys

The Scottish galleries within the National Gallery feature works by these pioneering artists, showcasing the best of Scottish art from 1800 to 1945.

In addition to these Scottish artists, the Scottish National Gallery also displays works by international artists, including masterpieces by Jacopo Bassano, Van Dyck, Giambattista Tiepolo, and Titian.

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Works by international artists

The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh houses Scotland's national collection of fine art, including international art from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. The collection includes works by international artists such as:

Jacopo Bassano

The Italian artist Jacopo Bassano is known for his religious paintings and altarpieces, often depicting scenes from the life of Christ. One of his most famous works is "The Last Supper", which is housed in the Basilica di Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari in Venice, Italy.

Van Dyck

Anthony van Dyck was a Flemish artist who was the leading court painter in England under Charles I. He painted several portraits, including one of Charles I on horseback, which is on display at the Scottish National Gallery.

Giambattista Tiepolo

Giambattista Tiepolo was a Venetian artist who was highly sought after for his grand frescoes and canvases. He worked in Italy and Spain, and his works often depicted religious and mythological scenes.

Titian

Titian was a Venetian painter and one of the most renowned artists of the Renaissance. His works include "Bacchus and Ariadne", which is on display at the Scottish National Gallery and illustrates a story told by the classical authors Ovid and Catullus.

Paul Cézanne

Paul Cézanne was a French artist and Post-Impressionist painter whose works often depicted still lifes and landscapes. The Scottish National Gallery houses one of his large paintings of female bathers, which he worked on during the final decade of his life.

Vermeer, Rembrandt, Velázquez, and the Impressionists

The Scottish National Gallery also features works by international artists such as Vermeer, Rembrandt, Velázquez, and various Impressionists, including Berthe Morisot and Pierre-Auguste Renoir.

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Masterpieces from the Royal Scottish Academy

The Scottish National Gallery, located in Edinburgh, houses Scotland's national collection of fine art, featuring Scottish and international art from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. The gallery contains several masterpieces from the Royal Scottish Academy, including works by Jacopo Bassano, Van Dyck, and Giambattista Tiepolo.

One notable work from the Royal Scottish Academy is Benjamin West's "Alexander III of Scotland Rescued from the Fury of a Stag" (1786). This large-scale canvas depicts a dramatic scene from Scottish history, with the Scottish king being saved from a furious stag. Another masterpiece is Rubens's "The Feast of Herod" (c.1633-1638), a vibrant and detailed portrayal of a biblical feast. The gallery also boasts a pair of paintings by Titian, "Diana and Actaeon" and "Diana and Callisto", jointly acquired with the National Gallery in London. These paintings showcase the artist's mastery of colour and composition.

The Scottish National Gallery also holds several landscapes by Alexander Nasmyth, known as the "father of Scottish landscape painting". His most famous work is a portrait of the renowned Scottish poet Robert Burns, commissioned by Edinburgh publisher William Creech in 1787. Nasmyth's portrait captures Burns's confidence and amusement, set against a backdrop suggestive of his native Ayrshire.

The gallery features several works by Sir Henry Raeburn, including portraits of prominent figures such as Sir Walter Scott. Raeburn's use of bold brushstrokes and dark contrasting colours brings a sense of depth and emotion to his paintings. The gallery also includes works by artists of the Glasgow School, such as James Guthrie, as well as English painters like Constable, whose "The Vale of Dedham" is a highlight.

The Royal Scottish Academy, designed by William Henry Playfair, neighbours the Scottish National Gallery and often collaborates with it. The Academy showcases a variety of exhibitions programmed by the National Galleries of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy of Art and Architecture.

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Portraits

The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh houses Scotland's national collection of fine art, including portraits, spanning Scottish and international art from the Renaissance to the early 20th century. The National Galleries Scotland, a public body, runs the museum, and also owns the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art and the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery includes a portrait of Scottish poet Robert Burns by Alexander Nasmyth, commissioned by Edinburgh publisher William Creech in 1787. The painting is a Romantic portrait, identifying the poet with nature and self-will, but with a flavour of Enlightenment rationalism.

Another portrait in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery is of Scottish philosopher David Hume by Allan Ramsay from 1766. Ramsay, born in Edinburgh, studied in London under Swedish painter Hans Hysing.

The Scottish National Gallery also holds several portraits by Sir Henry Raeburn, including one of Sir Walter Scott, depicting a man at the peak of his career and influence. Raeburn's work spearheads the blossoming Scottish School of the period.

The National Gallery's collection also includes several portraits by Anthony van Dyck, including one of Charles I, surveying his kingdom while sitting on a muscular horse.

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Landscapes

The Scottish National Gallery in Edinburgh houses Scotland's national collection of fine art, including several notable landscapes. The collection spans Scottish and international art, from the Renaissance to the early 20th century.

The Scottish artist Alexander Nasmyth is known as the "father of Scottish landscape painting". His most famous work is a portrait of the poet Robert Burns, which features a landscape background evocative of Burns's native Ayrshire. Nasmyth has several other landscapes in the National Gallery's collection.

Another notable landscape in the gallery is Benjamin West's "Alexander III of Scotland Rescued from the Fury of a Stag" (1786). This large-scale canvas depicts a dramatic scene of Alexander III of Scotland being rescued from an attacking stag.

The gallery also holds a sizeable collection of watercolours by J.M.W. Turner, traditionally displayed in January. These works capture the beauty of nature and are a testament to Turner's skill in portraying light and atmosphere.

The Monarch of the Glen, by English painter Sir Edwin Landseer, is also worth mentioning. This painting showcases the grandeur of the Scottish Highlands, celebrating the wildlife and scenery of this iconic region.

Lastly, the National Gallery boasts masterpieces by Jacopo Bassano, Anthony van Dyck, and Giambattista Tiepolo, transferred from the Royal Scottish Academy. While not strictly landscapes, these works often incorporate natural elements, contributing to the rich array of artistic styles and subjects on display.

Frequently asked questions

The National Gallery of Scotland houses Scotland's national collection of fine art, including works by Scottish artists and international artists. Some of the famous paintings on display include:

- Portraits by Sir Henry Raeburn, including one of Sir Walter Scott

- Alexander Nasmyth's portrait of Robert Burns

- Benjamin West's Alexander III of Scotland Rescued from the Fury of a Stag

- Rubens's The Feast of Herod

- Titian's Bacchus and Ariadne

- Van Dyck's Portrait of Giovanni di Nicolao di Arnolfini and his wife

- Constable's The Vale of Dedham

- Turner's watercolours

The National Gallery of Scotland's collection spans from the beginning of the Renaissance to the early 20th century. The collection includes Scottish and European art, with works by artists such as Jacopo Bassano, Giambattista Tiepolo, Vermeer, Rembrandt, Velázquez, and the Impressionists.

The National Gallery of Scotland is located on The Mound in central Edinburgh, close to Princes Street. The neoclassical building was designed by William Henry Playfair and first opened to the public in 1859.

The National Gallery of Scotland is located next to the Royal Scottish Academy Building (RSA), a separate institution that often hosts exhibitions programmed by the National Galleries of Scotland. The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is also located in Edinburgh and features portraits of notable Scots such as philosopher David Hume by Allan Ramsay.

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