Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

Glasgow, United Kingdom

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of Scotland's most popular visitor attractions. The museum has 22 galleries, housing a range of exhibits, including Renaissance art, taxidermy, and artifacts from ancient Egypt.

The gallery is located on Argyle Street, on the banks of the River Kelvin. The construction of Kelvingrove was partly financed by the proceeds of the 1888 International Exhibition held in Kelvingrove Park. 

Kelvingrove was reopened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 after a three-year closure for major refurbishment and restoration.

Collections

The museum's collections came mainly from the McLellan Galleries and from the old Kelvingrove House Museum in Kelvingrove Park. It has one of the finest collections of arms and armour in the world and a vast natural history collection. The art collection includes many outstanding European artworks, including works by the Old Masters (Vecellio's Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint Dorothy, Rembrandt van Rijn, Gerard de Lairesse, and Jozef Israëls), French Impressionists (such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Vincent van Gogh and Mary Cassatt), Dutch Renaissance, Scottish Colourists and exponents of the Glasgow School.

The museum houses Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dalí. The copyright of this painting was bought by the curator at the time after a meeting with Dalí himself. For a period between 1993 and 2006, the painting was moved to the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.

The museum also contains a large gift of the decorative arts from Anne Hull Grundy, an art collector and philanthropist, covering the history of European jewellery in the 18th and 19th centuries.

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Details

Founded: 1901
Category: Museums in United Kingdom

Rating

4.7/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Joy Kao (2 months ago)
Gorgeous Victorian architecture. It was the venue of the international exhibition in 1888. Free organ performance inside. The collections inside are very interesting as well, such as some cute pieces and modern arts (which will not get you bored)
Graeme Lawson (2 months ago)
First time visit and was pretty interesting. We have been to the museum in Edinburgh loads so keen to see what this one had to offer. Lots of interesting items and a good couple of hours spent. The guy playing the organ was a bonus and well worth seeing
Ali Worldwide (2 months ago)
It’s free no need for tickets - Amazing museum. I have been to a few museums around the world and this is up there with one of the bests. You can have a good family day out at this museum is located in the West End so once you’re finished there are plenty of places to eat from
Abraham Lee (2 months ago)
Beautiful and interesting gallery with many different exhibitions. Entry is free but they do appreciate donations. Come at 1pm to see the organists play in the main gallery square, wonder sounds that resound through the hall. Plenty of paid parking right outside the gallery though take note that the parking machines only accept coins.
Rizwan Ali Siddique (5 months ago)
Amazing, Walked through quickly. Great place for kids and souvenir shoppers. Very eclectic. The organ player was entertaining a crowd as we entered. An eclectic grouping grouping of collectibles. The museum is free with a donation box at the entrance. There is a cafe on the main level and a restaurant on the lower level. Both were crowded when we visited.
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