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. After closing for renovation in April 2009, it reopened on September 30, 2011. The revamped gallery not only features expanded exhibition spaces but also incorporates state-of-the-art facilities, creating an unparalleled kaleidoscope of Scottish life and history.

　　At the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, visitors can view portraits and photographs of both historical and contemporary figures from Scotland. The collection includes around 3,000 paintings, nearly 25,000 works on paper, and 38,000 photographs, dating from the Renaissance to the present. Initially, the collection focused mainly on royalty, nobility, clergy, and writers, before gradually expanding to include personalities from all walks of life. The artworks depict important Scots—both influencers and rebels, poets and philosophers, heroes and villains—who have shaped and transformed the world. Among the most famous historical portraits are those of Mary, Queen of Scots; the philosopher David Hume 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 on the ground floor, showcasing the work of Scottish artists as well as elements of Scottish culture and tradition, or featuring important portrait painters and photographers. The gallery also houses 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: Europe【Europe】 Country/Region: Britain[Britain] Province/State: Edinburgh [Edinburgh] City: Edinburgh [Edinburgh]