Iconic masterpiece comes to Perth gallery
Monarch of the Glen opens tomorrow in the Fair City
Art lovers are in for a treat tomorrow as an iconic painting comes to the Fair City.
The Monarch of the Glen, one of Scotland’s most loved pieces of art, will officially open to the public from 10am on Saturday at Perth Museum and Art Gallery.
The 1851 masterpiece by Sir Edwin Landseer will be given pride of place in the city’s art gallery for seven weeks until Sunday, January 14.
Depicting a magnificent stag against a Highland backdrop, the painting is currently on a tour of Scotland from its home in the National Galleries of Scotland in Edinburgh.
Helen Smout, chief executive of Culture Perth and Kinross, said: “I am delighted that Perth Museum and Art Gallery has been chosen to host this iconic painting which comes with such a rich history and cultural significance.
“It underlines Perth’s ability to host these big name travelling exhibitions and I am sure the Monarch of the Glen will be a big draw for art lovers across Perthshire, Kinross-shire and beyond.”
The seven-week exhibition will also be supported by a full programme of events and activities to give people a chance to explore and enjoy the arts – such as debates on the history and national identity of the painting.
Sir John Leighton, director-general of the National Galleries of Scotland, said: “Thanks to the generosity of the National Lottery and the Scottish Government, we are able to take this fantastic picture across the country to be enjoyed by as many people as possible.
“We want this tour of the Monarch of the Glen to be seen as a huge thank you for the overwhelming support that we received during the fundraising campaign [to buy the painting from drinks company Diageo] and as a celebration that this amazing work of art now belongs to all the people of Scotland.
“We hope that it will be admired and debated by audiences across the country. I’m sure the painting will attract plenty of excited visitors to Perth.”
Sir Edwin Landseer’s Monarch of the Glen