Perth Art Gallery facts for kids
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Pictured in 2024
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| Established | 1824 |
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| Location | 78 George Street Perth, Scotland |
| Architect | David Morison |
The Perth Art Gallery is the main art gallery and exhibition place in the city of Perth, Scotland. It is partly inside the Marshall Monument. This monument is named after Thomas Hay Marshall, who was a former leader (called a provost) of Perth.
The building used to be known as the Perth Museum and Art Gallery. It changed its name because a new Perth Museum opened in the Perth City Hall.
Contents
History of the Gallery Building
From Castle to Monument
The place where the gallery stands today was once home to a very old castle. This castle was a "motte and bailey" type, built in 1160. A motte and bailey castle had a tall mound (the motte) with a tower, and a fenced yard (the bailey) below. It was built to protect the crossing point over the River Tay.
In 1209, a huge flood washed the castle away! The King at the time, William the Lion, was staying there. He had to escape with his wife and friends by boat to Scone.
Later, the Marshall Monument was designed by David Morison. The sculptures were made by a company called John Cochrane and Brothers.
Opening as a Museum
Construction of the building began in 1822. It opened its doors in 1824 as a library and museum. This was thanks to the Literary and Antiquarian Society of Perth. It is one of the oldest museums in the United Kingdom that was built specifically to be a museum.
In 1915, the Society gave the building to the city of Perth. They had one condition: it had to keep being used only as a library or a museum.
Adding More Space
Over time, the museum received many generous gifts of money and paintings. Because of this, plans were made to add an extension to the building. In 1930, a competition was held to find the best design for the new part. Sir James John Burnett, a Scottish architect, was the judge.
A Perth company, Smart, Stewart & Mitchell, won the competition. The building work started when the first stone (called a foundation stone) was laid on December 2, 1932. This was done by the city's leader, Lord Provost Thomas Dempster.
The extension was built between 1933 and 1935. It was officially opened on August 10, 1935. The Duke and Duchess of York opened it. They later became King George VI and Queen Elizabeth. This new part of the building held the donated paintings. It also housed the natural history collections from the Perthshire Society of Natural Science. These collections had been kept at their museum on Tay Street before.
In May 1965, the building was given a special status. It became a category B listed building. This means it is an important historical building that needs to be protected.
What You Can See at the Gallery
The Perth Art Gallery has many interesting items in its collection. One special item is a piece of the Strathmore meteorite. This is a rock that fell to Earth from space!
Another fascinating exhibit is the mummy of a woman named Ta-Kr-Hb. She was an ancient Egyptian woman.
See also
In Spanish: Museo y Galería de Arte de Perth para niños
- List of listed buildings in Perth, Scotland
