National Galleries Scotland: Portrait

The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is one of Edinburgh’s most remarkable buildings – a great red sandstone neo-gothic palace which sits proudly on the city’s skyline. The Gallery was designed by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson as a shrine for Scotland’s heroes and heroines. It opened to the public in 1889 as the world’s first purpose-built portrait gallery.
Displays at the Gallery explore different aspects of the story of Scotland and its people, told through a wealth of imagery including portraits of famous historical figures such as Mary Queen of Scots, Prince Charles Edward Stuart and Robert Burns, through to more recent pioneers in science, sport and the arts. See these fantastic displays in beautifully refurbished spaces, from the suite of grand top-lit galleries to smaller intimate rooms, and discover the Photography Gallery, and the atmospheric Victorian Library. The displays change on a regular basis, so there is always something new to see.

The Scottish National Gallery, along with the Scottish National Portrait Gallery and Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art forms the National Galleries of Scotland. We care for, research and display Scotland’s national art collection, to inform, engage and inspire the broadest possible public.