Annual Review 2014–2015
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Annual Review 2014–2015 The National Galleries of Scotland cares for, develops, researches and displays the national collection of Scottish and international fine art and, © Keith Hunter Photography © Keith Hunter Photography © Keith Hunter Photography Scottish National Gallery Scottish National Portrait Gallery Scottish National Gallery with a lively and innovative The Scottish National Gallery comprises The Scottish National Portrait Gallery of Modern Art One programme of exhibitions, three linked buildings at the foot of is about the people of Scotland – past Home to Scotland’s outstanding national the Mound in Edinburgh. The Gallery and present, famous or forgotten. The collection of modern and contemporary education and publications, houses the national collection of fine portraits include over 30,000 inspiring art, the Scottish National Gallery of art from the early Renaissance to the images which represent a unique record Modern Art comprises two buildings, aims to engage, inform end of the nineteenth century, including of the men and women whose lives Modern One and Modern Two, set in and inspire the broadest Scottish art from around 1600 to 1900. and achievements have helped shape parkland. The early part of the collection The Gallery is joined to the Royal Scotland and the wider world. The features French and Russian art from possible public. Scottish Academy building via the collection also celebrates the evolution the beginning of the twentieth century, underground Weston Link, which con- of the art of portraiture in Scotland as cubist paintings and superb holdings of tains a restaurant, café, cloakroom, shop, well as including many distinguished expressionist and modern British art. The lecture theatre, Clore education suite artists in the grand tradition of European Gallery also has an outstanding collection and information desk. The Academy portraiture. Photography and film also of international post-war work and the building is a world-class venue for form part of the collection, celebrating most important and extensive collection special temporary exhibitions. Scottish achievements in these media. of modern and contemporary Scottish art. National Galleries of Scotland Annual Review 2014–2015 3 Foreword 5 A World-Class Programme 8 ARTIST ROOMS 11 Highlights 17 Researching and Caring for our Collections © National Galleries of Scotland © National Galleries of Scotland © National Galleries of Scotland Scottish National Gallery Duff House Paxton House 21 Learning Opportunities for All of Modern Art Two Duff House in Banff is one of our partner Paxton House in Berwickshire is another 29 Building Great Collections Modern Two is home to a varied Galleries and displays a number of objects partner Gallery which displays works programme of world-class exhibitions from the National Galleries of Scotland’s from the National Galleries of Scotland’s 39 Supporters and displays. It also houses the permanent collection. Designed by permanent collection. Built to the design Gallery’s world-famous surrealist William Adam and built between 1735 of John Adam in 1758 by Patrick Home 41 Facts and Figures collection and a fascinating re-creation and 1739, it is a treasure house with a of Billie for his intended bride, Sophie de of Eduardo Paolozzi’s studio. On display stunning permanent collection, operated Bandt, Paxton House is one of the finest is The Stairwell Project, a large-scale, by Historic Environment Scotland in neo-Palladian country houses in Scotland. permanent work by 2009 Turner partnership with the National Galleries of Prize winner Richard Wright. Modern Scotland and Aberdeenshire Council. Front cover: Two is also home to the Gallery’s Bouteille et verre sur une table (Bottle and Glass library and archive, open to the public on a Table), 1912 by Pablo Picasso© Succession by appointment. Picasso/DACS, London 2015 The National Galleries of Scotland looks after one of the world’s finest collections of Western art, ranging from the Middle Ages to the present day. These holdings include the national collection of Scottish art which we are proud to display in an international context. Foreword This review looks back on one of the most successful years in Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) under their Skills for the Future the recent history of the National Galleries of Scotland (NGS). programme, we began a new scheme training young people for Close to 2 million visitors came to the Galleries in the past an SQA-recognised qualification in the digitisation of collec- year which is the highest number in our history. Our activities tions. This not only provides new opportunities for the trainees in 2014 were dominated by the hugely ambitious exhibition but also helps us towards our goal to digitise the entire NGS project entitled GENERATION: 25 Years of Contemporary Art collection by 2020. in Scotland. This nationwide celebration of contemporary art We hope that you will enjoy reading about our recent work in Scotland was conceived by NGS together with Glasgow Life and our future plans. These include the ambitious redevelop- and Creative Scotland and extended to nearly seventy venues ment of the Scottish National Gallery with a suite of brand new showing work by more than 100 artists. Over 1.3 million visitors galleries for the world’s greatest collection of historic Scottish attended the various shows, opening up a whole new audience art. This scheme has received a stage one pass for funding from for recent art in this country and providing a national showcase the HLF and we hope to be able to start work in 2016 for comple- for the vibrancy of artistic life in Scotland during the past tion in 2018. We are also developing plans in partnership with twenty-five years. Historic Environment Scotland for a major new facility in north GENERATION is just one example of the prominent role that Edinburgh for conserving and providing better access to our partnership plays in our activities and it builds on the model of collections when they are not on display in the main Galleries. collaboration established through ARTIST ROOMS, the collection We would like to thank our many sponsors, patrons and of modern art donated by Anthony d’Offay and owned jointly donors for all they do to support our work. We acknowledge by NGS and Tate. Since 2009 more than 35 million visitors have with gratitude the enthusiastic support of our main sponsor, the seen displays from the ARTIST ROOMS collection in 131 exhibi- Scottish Government, and in particular the Cabinet Secretary tions held the length and breadth of the UK, including those at for Culture, Europe and External Affairs, Fiona Hyslop and NGS and Tate. her team. We pay tribute also to the hard work and dedication This review offers a glimpse of our many other activities in of our staff and Trustees. NGS is fortunate to enjoy amazing Scotland and across the rest of the world including our touring support from our volunteers, our Friends, our Patrons and their exhibition at The Frick Collection in New York. We have added Governors and our American Patrons. important works to the national collection, mounted world- Thank you for your interest and we look forward to class exhibitions with wide-ranging educational activities and welcoming you to the Galleries or to one of our partnership extended our digital reach. Thanks to a major award from the activities in 2016. Ben Thomson Sir John Leighton Chairman Director-General Detail from 15–1958, 1958 by William Turnbull © Estate of William Turnbull. All rights reserved, DACS 2015 3 Our public programme combines the display of the permanent collection with a series of temporary exhibitions and displays, alongside a dynamic programme of education activities and events. A World-Class Programme Masterpieces from the collaboration with the National Galleries Scottish National Gallery of Scotland and the Museo Thyssen- The Frick Collection, New York Bornemisza, Madrid. 5 November 2014 to 1 February 2015 The first ever exhibition on this subject in the UK, this show explored the response of Botticelli to Braque: American artists to French Impressionism. Masterpieces from the National It featured major international artists Galleries of Scotland such as James McNeill Whistler, John de Young, Fine Arts Museums, Singer Sargent and Mary Cassatt, along San Francisco with artists better known to American 7 March to 31 May 2015 audiences, such as Theodore Robinson, From November 2014 until February 2015, Childe Hassam, William Merritt Chase and The Frick Collection, one of the most John Twachtman. A selection of pictures by prestigious museums in North America, the French Impressionists Claude Monet, presented ten masterpieces from the Berthe Morisot and Edgar Degas provided a Scottish National Gallery. The exhibition context for the American works. featured paintings from the fifteenth to the nineteenth centuries that invited Sponsored by illuminating comparisons to the Frick’s permanent collection. Highlights included MARCH 7–MAY 31, 2015 Botticelli’s The Virgin Adoring the Sleeping IMPRESSIO ISM Sir Henry Raeburn, Reverend Robert Walker, Skating on Duddingston Loch, ca. 1795. Oil on canvas, 30 x 25 in. (76.2 x 63.5 cm). National Galleries of Scotland. Purchased 1949 (NG 2112) Christ Child, which had never been exhib- 4319-BotticelliToBraqueExhPosterFINAL.indd 1 11/25/14 11:17 AM ited in the United States, and Sargent’s arresting portrait Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. In 2015, the ten works travelled with an additional forty-five works from NGS collections to the de Young, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, and in June 2015 to the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas. SCOTTISH NATIONAL GALLERY AMERICAN American Impressionism: A New Vision A NEW VISION Detail from Rocks and Ferns in a Modern Two, Belford Road, Edinburgh Admission £8/ £6 Wood at Crossmount, Perthshire, 1847 19 July to 19 October 2014 19 July – 19 October 2014 National Galleries of Scotland is a charity registered in Scotland (No.