Talbot Rice Gallery

Located in Playfair's Georgian Gallery within the Old College on South Bridge, the Talbot Rice Art Gallery is the public art gallery of the University of Edinburgh. It is regarded as one of the leading centres for contemporary art in Scotland and exhibits a permanent collection of paintings and bronzes. These include the Torrie Collection, a set of 16th and 17th Century European works collected by Sir James Erskine of Torrie, including the bronzes Anatomical Figure of a Horse by Giambologna and Cain and Abel by De Vries. The Talbot Rice also holds the Hope Scott Collection, with works by Bonnard, Ernst, Picasso, Utrillo and Van Dongen, together with paintings by 20th Century Scottish artists, including a significant collection of the works of William Johnstone (1897 - 1981).

In addition, the gallery mounts several temporary exhibitions each year involving contemporary art, formed around social, cultural and
political issues with leading artist, together with artist talks, performances, screenings, tours, school visits and workshops.

The gallery is named after David Talbot Rice (1903 - 72), Professor of Fine Art at the University between 1934 and 1972, and opened shortly after his death.

Once home to the University's Natural History Museum, the gallery comprises two principal spaces; the White Gallery and the Georgian Gallery. The White Gallery is a distinctive white cubic space with eight-metre-high atrium, large skylights, a mezzanine level with smaller galleries and a small circular round room with cupola. The Georgian Gallery retains a neo-classical interior with ornate columns, three cupolas and is overlooked by an interior balcony that surrounds the room.

Now forming part of Edinburgh College of Art (within the University) the gallery also has an important role in teaching and research.


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