Aberdeen Art Gallery facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Aberdeen Art Gallery
Aberdeen Art Gallery
General information
Location	Aberdeen, Scotland
Coordinates	57.1482°N 2.1024°W
Opened	7 July 1885

The Aberdeen Art Gallery is a fantastic place in Aberdeen, Scotland, where you can see amazing art. It first opened its doors on July 7, 1885. A talented architect named Alexander Marshall Mackenzie designed the building. The gallery is famous for its collection of modern art from Scotland and around the world. You can find works by artists like Ken Currie and Bridget Riley here. In 1900, it received a large art collection from Alexander Macdonald, a local businessman.

A Look Back: The Gallery's Story

How the Gallery Began

The Aberdeen Art Gallery was built after a design competition. The winning design was created by Alexander Marshall Mackenzie and James Matthews. Construction started in 1883, and the gallery welcomed its first visitors in 1885. More parts were added later, including a special court for sculptures in 1905.

Art in the Digital Age

In April 2020, the gallery made 50 of its artworks available online. You could view them using the Smartify app. This meant people could enjoy the art from their homes.

A Special Award

In October 2020, the Aberdeen Art Gallery won a big award. It was named one of the five winners of the Art Fund Museum of the Year Award. The prize money was increased to £200,000 that year. This was to help museums during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What You Can See: The Art Collection

A Growing Collection

The art collection at Aberdeen Art Gallery has grown a lot since it started in 1885. It includes famous works by artists like Monet and Renoir. You can also see art by more modern artists such as John Bulloch Souter and James McBey.

Different Styles and Eras

The gallery's permanent collection has art from many different times. There are 18th-century paintings by artists like Henry Raeburn and William Hogarth. You can also find 20th-century works by Paul Nash and Francis Bacon. The collection also features art from the Post-Impressionist movement and works by the Scottish Colourists. Besides paintings, there are also beautiful crafts and applied arts.

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  David Wilkie (1786-1841) - The Duke of Wellington Writing Dispatches

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  Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps (1803-1860) - The Watering Place

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  Gustave Courbet (1819-1877) - The Stream

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  Henri Fantin-Latour (1836-1904) - Dahlias

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  Stanislas Lépine (1835-1892) - The Shepherdess

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  Jules Adolphe Aimé Louis Breton (1827-1906) - The Gleaner

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  Alfred Sisley (1839-1899) - Les bords du Loing, France

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  Théodore Rousseau (1812-1867) - Un marais dans les Landes, France

The Gallery Building: Design and Features

The Sculpture Court after renovation

Unique Granite Columns

The main hall of the gallery has special granite columns. These columns come in many different colors. The stone was brought from various quarries both near Aberdeen and from far away.

Remembering Heroes: The War Memorial

At one end of the building, there is a large war memorial. It was built in the 1920s as the gallery expanded. People donated money to help build it. Inside the Memorial Court, you can see books that list the names of those who died in World War I, World War II, and other conflicts. This includes people from the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets.

Cowdray Hall: A Place for Performances

Another part added during the gallery's expansion was Cowdray Hall. This hall is a concert venue where music and performances take place. King George V and Queen Mary officially opened it on September 25, 1925. A generous gift from Annie, the Viscountess of Cowdray, helped build the hall. She wanted to encourage a love for art and music in Aberdeen.

Modern Makeover: Recent Renovations

The gallery closed in 2015 for a big renovation project. This £34.6 million project was designed by Hoskins Architects. The gallery reopened its doors in November 2019. The renovation project won an award from the Scottish Civic Trust. It was recognized for greatly improving the look and quality of the building.

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  War Memorial (interior)

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  War Memorial (exterior)

See also

• Culture in Aberdeen