The Fine Art of Photography - Photographs from the Collection of the National Galleries of Scotland

Exhibitions

National Galleries of Scotland

The Fine Art of Photography

19 Oct 2001 to 13 Jan 2002

Alfred C Buckham

The Exhibition

This is an exhibition selected from the National Galleries of Scotland's collection of over 27,000 photographs. The photographs above and below are:

- Alfred G Buckham - Aerial View of Edinburgh c.1920 (above)

- Hill & Adamson [Calotype] Elizabeth Johnstone Hall (below)

Newhaven Fishwife

A calotype by Hill & Adamson

Elizabeth Johnstone Hall "It's no fish ye're buying, it's men's lives"

Some of the Photographers in the Exhibition

Photographs by Eve Arnold, Bill Brandt, Calum Colvin, Roger Fenton, Francis Frith, Roger Mayne, Man Ray, George Rodger, Alfred Steiglitz and many other renowned photographers are included.

Edinburgh photographers are well represented, from the 1840s up to Robin Gillanders and David Williams, today. Some of the early photographers who were either based in Edinburgh or who had links with Edinburgh's photographic societies are listed below.

- George Washington Wilson [Carte de visite] - Queen Victoria on 'Fyvie'

- William Donaldson Clark - Views of Edinburgh

- Antoine Claudet [a hand-tinted daguerreotype]

- Ross & Thomson [albumen] - Edinburgh from the Castle

- Charles Piazzi Smyth [stereoscopic albumen prints]

- John Moffat - a family group

- James Drummond - landscapes

- Julia Margaret Cameron - children

- Thomas Annan - Glasgow closes

- Archibald Burns - Edinburgh views

- John Patrick - Skating on Duddingston Loch

The Scottish National Photography Collection

The Scottish National Photography Collection was established in 1984 from the photographs in the possession of the National Galleries of Scotland, including over 5,000 calotypes by Hill & Adamson.

This collection has expanded over the years, partly through purchases and partly though generous gifts by Edinburgh Photogrpahic Society, Mrs Riddell, Mrs Notman, Mrs Uldall, and others.

The gallery staged an exhibition of Hill & Adamson prints following the donation from Edinburgh Photographic Society. Several major events will be held during 2002 to commemorate the bi-centenary of the birth of DO Hill.

The gallery and produced a book Masterpieces from the Riddell Collection when following the death of Peter Riddell in 1985, his widow donated his collection of over 10,000 items to the gallery.

A Possible new home for the Collection

In recent months, there has been discussion of establishing a permanent home in Edinburgh to display items from the Scottish National Photographic Collection. The building currently [at November 2001] under review to house this collection is The Royal High School.

It may be possible to find out more information on this project by sending an e-mail to DOHill02@btinternet.com.

The Royal High School was considered, a few years ago, along with Leith Docks and Holyrood, as a possible location to house the new Scottish Parliament. The decision was taken in favour of constructing a new building to house the Parliament in the Old Town of Edinburgh, close to Holyrood Palace.

The Book

A fully illustrated book, containing extensive comments on the photographs in the exhibition has been produced. The book, A Companion Guide to Photography in the National Galleries of Scotland costs £12.95. Admission to the exhibition is free. Both are excellent value.