The Kelvingrove Art Gallery houses an impressive and valuable collection of European art, silver, armour, ceramics, sculpture and natural history, all of which have been divided into 22 different galleries and spread over three floors. The gallery itself is a beautiful Spanish Baroque-style building built in the late 19th century.
A local draftsman named Archibald McLellan donated his treasured private collection of 400 paintings to the City of Glasgow in 1854, and it is from these initial pieces that the Kelvingrove collection steadily grew. It wasn’t until 1901 that the museum opened to the public.
The gallery houses a selection of natural world objects and ancient artefacts, including an elephant called Sir Roger who was brought back from India in the late 19th-century. Have a look at an ancient Egyptian coffin found near the River Nile and look above you for the World War II aircraft hanging from the ceiling.
The discovery centre is a big hit with children, and is home to a selection of insect and animal displays. Near the discovery centre is an organ dating back to 1901 which was built for the Glasgow International Exhibition – there is a 30-minute recital every day.
The second floor is home to an interesting collection of artwork by both celebrated and lesser-known European artists, in galleries devoted to French Impressionists, Dutch Renaissance artists and the Old Masters. Don’t miss “The Annunciation” by Sandro Botticelli, nor Salvador Dali’s “Christ of St. John of the Cross”. A rather surprising addition to the section is an elephant tusk that has been engraved with a story about the incarnation of the Buddha.
The lower ground floor is home to an ever-rotating collection of temporary exhibitions. Have a look at the museum’s website for more information about the temporary exhibitions that will be on display during your visit.
The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is located a ten-minute drive from Glasgow’s city centre – there is limited free parking available. You can catch a public bus or walk the thirty minutes from George Square in the city centre.
The museum is open every day except 25-26 December and 1-2 January. There is no admission fee.
