Painting the Forth
Epic landscape painting of the type which helped shape national consciousness in the 18th and 19th centuries is no longer practised, but the work of artist Darren Woodhead, now showing in the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum, has something of the same aim. Darren who has previously been BBC
King Robert the Bruce
The story of King Robert the Bruce has been told and re-told ever since he captured England’s best poet, Robert Baston, at the battle of Bannockburn and made him write a poem on the great Scottish victory. Baston took 20 years to do it, and there have been many versions
Thomson’s Carriage Works
Today’s object from the Stirling Smith collections is an advertising card for the firm of George Thomson, Carriage Builder, issued at the Edinburgh International Industrial Exhibition of 1886 and showing two of his carriages. It is a recent gift to the collections from Mrs Jane Millar. The firm of George
Forth Vineyards
Today’s objects from the Stirling Smith collections are a porcelain sugar bowl and cream jug, hand painted with “A Present from Stirling”. They were recently gifted by Anne Muirhead of Gargunnock, and they reference the Kippen Vine, planted 1891. By 1922, the Kippen Big Vine was acknowledged to be the
Tribute to Britain’s first woman archaeologist
Over the past year, Stirling has been adorned with woodland carvings on a variety of historical subjects, thanks to the creative programme of the Stirling Council Ranger Service. The latest wood carving, near the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum has been erected in honour of Christian Maclagan (1809 –
Cliff Bank
2016 is the Year of Innovation, Architecture and Design. Featured from the Stirling Smith collections today is the lovely double villa of Cliff Bank, 32 – 34 Albert Place. It was built in 1878 by architect John Allan (1846 – 1922) as his own residence. Its demure exterior hides many
Happy Feet
The Stirling Albion exhibition has only another week to run at the Smith, but the good news is that some of the treasures loaned for the exhibition will be staying in the Smith collections – like this rare Albion shirt of 1948 and the clock ‘Presented by the Directors of
The Wallace of the Sikh People
Wallace, who liberated Scotland, is the very first national liberator. Others in search of freedom who came after him have always acknowledged that. The Scottish colliers in the 18th century who were serfs, organised themselves intoSir William Wallace Lodges of Free Colliersto establish their freedom. Garibaldi in the 19th century
Cowane’s Hospital
Here is an image of how Cowane’s Hospital should look – pristine, white and cared for, as shown in this model from the Stirling Smith collections, made by Aberdeen man George W Reid. As most people know, Cowane’s has long awaited refurbishment and improvements. The Heritage Lottery upgrade will soon
Stirling’s Museum
This engraving of the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum in August 1874 was published in The Graphic Magazine, gifted to the Smith by Jim Thomson. The Stirling Smith has served Stirling as a museum, gallery and cultural venue for 142 years. It was therefore quite a surprise to see