Art Galleries and Museums in Glasgow’s West End
Hunterian Art Gallery
University of Glasgow, Library, Univesity Avenue, G12
The Hunterian Art Gallery is my favourite gallery in the West End. This gallery contains paintings, prints and drawings by many of the ‘big names’ like Rembrandt (1606-69), James McNeill Whistler(1834-1903), August Rodin (1840-1871) and Tinteretto (1518-94). Personal favourites include paintings by Francis Cadell ( The Red Chair) and E.A. Hornel ( the names of the paintings I can’t recall). The Art Gallery has Europe’s largest display of work by the American artist James McNeill Whistler – 70 paintings and numerous personal artifacts.
The Gallery and Museum was created when William Hunter (1718-83) gifted his paintings, coins and antiquarian collection to the University of Glasgow. The collection was housed in the specially built Hunterian Museum in 1807 – becoming the first public museum in Scotland when the doors where opened. Sadly the original building has long since been demolished. The current gallery, which is located next to Glasgow University Library, is a rather ugly building on the outside (all concrete and straight lines) but has a pleasingly airy and light interior. Of particular note are the large and impressively sculpted aluminium doors which lead into the main gallery.
Glasgow University owns the world’s largest collection of work by Charles Rennie Mackintosh – the acclaimed Scottish architect. Much of this is housed in a detailed re-creation of Mackintosh’s former home at 78 Southpark Avenue. This is a ‘must see’ for any visitor – the furniture, the colours, the shapes and designs are seen at their best in this setting. The recreation of Mackintosh’s house accounts for the rather strange shape of some of the exterior walls of the Gallery – e.g. a front door set half way up the wall, strangely shaped bits of concrete jutting out here and there.
The Hunterian Museum
Located within the main University building,(The Gilbert Scott Building) is a hidden treasure in itself. Here you can find a permanent exhibition about the evolution of our planet with exhibits including: Scottish dinosaurs; the 325 million old ‘Bearsden Shark’; and Hunter’s large coin collection. I don’t know yet whether Bearsden was where they found the shark or if that’s the name of the person who dug it up? And if I could think of a funny line in relation to this I would certainly share it with you.
More information can be found at:The Hunterian Website
Glasgow University also houses the ‘little known’ Zoology Museum – it must be little known because I didn’t know about it until recently! This is in the Graham Kerr Building a short walk from the main museum.
Zoology Museum Update
Maggie Reilly has been in touch to with some information about the Zoology Museum. I am hoping to go up for a visit soon and do a feature all about the museum, but in the meantime here is the information:
The Zoology Museum at Glasgow University
The Zoology Museum is to be found in the Graham Kerr Building on the University campus. Don’t be put off by having to wend your way through the University grounds – a treat awaits you! The Zoology Museum is small , just one gallery, but is packed with the variety of animal life. There is everything from armadillos to zebra beetles plus some live exhibits of frogs and snakes. We have recently opened a new exhibition on insects so come and find out more about the fascinating world of ‘creepy-crawlies’
In University term time the Museum is often busy with classes of students but public visitors are very welcome anytime between 9 – 5pm Monday to Friday, all year round. Admission is free. We are not open at weekends or on most public holidays. Group visits must be pre-booked For this or any other information on the Zoology Museum, contact the curator, Maggie Reilly on 0141 330 4772 or at mreilly@museum.gla.ac.uk
Details:
Open between 9.30am and 5pm Monday to Saturday
Mackintosh House closed between 12.30pm and1.30pm
Disabled Access: Yes – apart from upper floors of MacKintosh House
Tel. 0141 330 4221/5431
e-mail:hunter@museum.gla.ac.uk
Website: http://www.gla.ac.uk/Museum
Zoology Museum: 9-5 Monday to Friday
For group visits book via Maggie Reilly on 0141 330 4772 or at mreilly@museum.gla.ac.uk
Collins Gallery
University of Strathclyde, 22 Richmond Street, G1 1 XQ
collinsgallery@strath.ac.uk
4th April – 16th May
Life: Contemporary Scottish Painting
With: Susan Eaton, Shona Barr, Moray Hillary, Simon Laurie, Gregory Rankine, Donald MacLeod, James McDonald, Tony Scullion and Graeme Wilcox.
Monday – Friday 10 – 5 and Saturday 12 – 4 pm.
The City of Glasgow has thirteen museums. Museums and art galleries include: Kelvingrove Art Gallery & Museum; The Burrell Collection; Fossil Grove; Gallery of Modern Art; Martyrs’ School; McLellan Galleries; Museum of Transport; Open Museum, Nitshill & Open Museum Resources; People’s Palace Pollok House; Provand’s Lordship; Scotland Street School Museum; St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.
This section: Galleries
Filed under: Galleries