Overview of Gallery of Modern Art

Built in 1778 as the townhouse of William Cunninghame of Lainshaw, a wealthy Glasgow tobacco lord, this building has undergone a series of different uses. It was bought in 1817 by the Royal Bank of Scotland who later moved onto Buchanan Street and then became the Royal Exchange. Reconstruction for this use was undertaken by David Hamilton between 1827 and 1832 and resulted in many additions to the building, namely the Corinthian pillars to the Queen Street facade, the cupola above and the large hall to the rear of the old house.

In 1954, Glasgow District Libraries moved the Stirling's Library into the building and since the return of the library to Miller Street it has been used to house the Gallery of Contemporary Art.