I’ve been wondering past the glass doors for months before I finally realise it’s the entrance to the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery. And so I decide it’s time to take a peek.
Wandering and discovering
Inside I find an eclectic selection of art, but it’s the Nomadic Landmass drawing by Stevn Klint that initially charms me.
It’s a vast geological line drawing with so much detail – it’s almost difficult to imagine the work and energy that’s gone into this impressive large scale pencil sketch.
The striking portrait of Fraulein Engelhardt by Marie-Louise von Motesickzy is equally as mesmerising. Fraulein’s heavy lids can’t help but draw me in. In fact I’d like to meet this woman, hear her story – I bet it would be a good one.
If paintings aren’t your thing, the Hunterian also has ample collections of objects from the Bearsden’s shark to a Chinese map of the world… and then some. Whatever your taste, the family of china skulls decorated with blue sailing ships is a must-see.
Discover art across the eras
Impressively, the gallery houses the world’s largest permanent display of the work of James McNeill Whistler, the largest single holding of the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh and the Mackintosh House – including reassembled interiors from his Glasgow home. Impressive and unmissable.
Scottish Art from 1750 to 1960 is also on display – so you can pick your favourite era. Post-war artist Joan Eardley is definitely mine. Her love affair with Glasgow, captured in her words and paintings, is reason enough to pay this gallery a visit.
So get yourself through those glass doors and discover the magic.
– B
About a City 