Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Scottish National Portrait Gallery

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is an art museum located in Edinburgh. It was inaugurated in 1889 as the world’s first purpose-built portrait gallery. The gallery closed for renovation in April 2009 and reopened on September 30, 2011. The reopened gallery not only features expanded exhibition space but also introduces state-of-the-art facilities, forming an unparalleled kaleidoscope of Scottish life and history.

At the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, you can view portraits and photographs of famous figures from Scotland’s past and present. The collection includes around 3,000 paintings, nearly 25,000 works on paper, and 38,000 photographs, spanning from the Renaissance to the present day. Initially, the focus was primarily on royalty, nobility, clergy, and writers, but it gradually expanded to include individuals from all walks of life. The artworks depict influential and transformative Scots—rebels and poets, philosophers and heroes, villains and visionaries. Among the most renowned historical portraits are those of Mary, Queen of Scots; David Hume, the philosopher, by Allan Ramsay; Robert Burns by Alexander Nasmyth; and Sir Walter Scott by Sir Henry Raeburn.

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery also hosts special exhibitions, typically held on the ground floor. These often showcase works by Scottish artists, as well as exhibitions highlighting Scottish culture and traditions, or featuring works by prominent portrait painters and photographers. The gallery also features a large shop and café, which are very popular with visitors.

Scottish National Portrait Gallery

Must-visit reason: The world’s first purpose-built portrait gallery

Continent where the attraction is located: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region where the attraction is located: Britain[Britain]

Province/State where the attraction is located: Edinburgh [Edinburgh]

City where the attraction is located: Edinburgh [Edinburgh]