Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is a museum and art gallery in Glasgow, Scotland, and is the most popular free tourist attraction in Scotland—surpassing Edinburgh Castle—and the most visited museum in the UK outside of London. It is located on Argyle Street in the city's West End, by the River Kelvin, opposite the similarly styled Kelvin Hall.

Part of the funding for the construction of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum came from the profits of the 1888 International Exhibition held in Kelvingrove Park. The architects were John William Simpson and Milan Allen, and it opened in 1901. It is built in the Spanish Baroque style and follows the Glasgow tradition of using local red sandstone. Although intended as a permanent structure, it was originally conceived as the main building for another international exhibition (in 1901) to be held in the park. This explains why the building appears to have its front and back reversed. Today, most visitors enter through the rear entrance on the main street, Argyle Street, rather than the front entrance facing the park.

The museum’s collections largely originated from the McLellan Galleries, as well as the old Kelvingrove Museum located within Kelvingrove Park. It houses one of the world’s finest collections of arms and armour, as well as extensive natural history exhibits. The art collection includes many outstanding works of European art, featuring pieces by Old Masters, French Impressionists, Dutch Renaissance artists, Scottish Colourists, and the Glasgow School. The museum also holds Salvador Dalí’s famous painting Christ of Saint John of the Cross. Between 2003 and 2006, this painting was temporarily moved to the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.

On July 11, 2006, after three years of closure for renovation, Queen Elizabeth II presided over the reopening ceremony of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. The restoration cost over £28 million and included a new restaurant and a large underground exhibition space housing 8,000 artefacts.

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Must-visit reason: Scotland’s most popular free tourist attraction

Continent: Europe【Europe】

Country/Region: Britain[Britain]

Province/State: Glasgow [Glasgow]

City: Glasgow [Glasgow]