Museum

National Galleries Scotland

City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom

National Galleries Scotland is a museum in City of Edinburgh, United Kingdom. 1,131 works from its collection are in this catalog, including Titian and Paolo Veronese.

About National Galleries Scotland

The National Galleries of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Gailearaidhean Nàiseanta na h-Alba, sometimes also known as National Galleries Scotland) is the executive non-departmental public body that controls the three national galleries of Scotland and two partner galleries, forming part of the National Collections of Scotland.

The purpose of National Galleries Scotland (NGS) was set out by an act of Parliament in the National Galleries of Scotland Act 1906, amended by the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985. Its role is to manage the National Galleries of Scotland, care for, preserve and add to the objects in its collections, exhibit artworks to the public and to promote education and public enjoyment and understanding of the Fine Arts.

Identity & Mandate

The National Galleries of Scotland (Scottish Gaelic: Gailearaidhean Nàiseanta na h-Alba) is an executive non-departmental public body under the Scottish Government. Its statutory role, defined by the National Galleries of Scotland Act 1906 and amended by the National Heritage (Scotland) Act 1985, is to manage the national collection of Scottish and international art. The organization is mandated to care for, preserve, and add to its collections, exhibit artworks to the public, and promote education and public enjoyment of the Fine Arts.

It governs three national galleries in Edinburgh: the Scottish National Gallery, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, alongside two partner galleries.

Collection Highlights

The collection spans from the Renaissance to the present day, with a strong emphasis on Scottish art. A pivotal moment in the collection's history was the 1945 loan by the Duke of Sutherland, which included five Titians, two Raphaels, and a Rembrandt self-portrait, many of which were later acquired. The gallery holds the Maitland collection of French late nineteenth and early twentieth-century paintings, featuring works by Degas, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, and Van Gogh.

The Scottish collection is particularly renowned for its portraits of the Stewart dynasty and the pioneering works of the Scottish Colourists. The Modern galleries house a superb collection of Dada and Surrealism, as well as a significant gift of works by the sculptor Sir Eduardo Paolozzi.