Wallace Monument
This is the Year of Architecture, when the National Wallace Monument will be celebrating the 155th anniversary of the laying foundation stone, 24 June 1861. It was one of the biggest public events in 19th century Scotland, and was followed by one of the longest building programmes. The Monument was
Flockhart Legacy
The exhibition of twentieth century art from the Stirling Smith’s collection continues. Featured prominently is this work by Helen Flockhart, who graduated from Glasgow School of Art in 1985. Since then she has built a formidable reputation through numerous exhibitions in Britain, Europe and America. Her rich, meticulously crafted paintings
The Stirling Jug
The Stirling Jug or Scots Pint is one of the oldest artefacts of the Royal Burgh of Stirling. Investigation by specialist staff at the National Museum of Scotland has dated the Stirling Jug to 1511, when it was manufactured at Edinburgh Castle by Robert Borthwick who was “maister meltare of
‘Nightmare’ by James Hume Nisbet
One of the tasks of the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum is to collect and show the works of important Stirling artists. ‘The Nightmare’ is a recently purchased gouache by Stirling born artist and writer James Hume Nisbet (1849 – 1923) who is largely unknown in Scotland today, but
Celebrating Stirling’s 1st Printer
Stirling has a lot to be proud of in the field of history and heritage. At one time, from the late 19th to the mid 20th century, it was a printing and publishing town. However, it had a really early association with printing when Robert Lekpravik moved his printing press
Gates of Death, 1969 by John Bellany
This painting came to the Stirling Smith from the Scottish Arts Council Bequest of 1998. John Bellany, CBE, RA, (1942 – 2013) graduated from Edinburgh College of Art in 1968. This picture is one of his earliest works, of which there are 128, in public collections in Britain. Throughout his
The Lovers’ Last Lunch, Ian Thompson, 1997
The current exhibition at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum is Twentieth Century Art from the Smith’s Collection. This is one of about 60 works in the show, which runs until 14 August. Many different movements and styles are covered, and every decade of the century is represented. The
Drymen Communion Silver, 1732
Next Thursday (18 February) there will be a celebration at the Stirling Smith for the purchase of two silver cups, inscribed ‘The Communion Cups of the Kirk of Drymen 1732’. These are very rare communion vessels, made by émigré silversmith Johan Gottleiff Bilsinds of Glasgow. Only a very few examples
Sewing Sample Day Dress, by Matilda Murdoch, 1839
The Stirling Smith does not have a large collection of costume, but this is one of 26 items, sewn by eight year old Matilda Murdoch in 1839. Each piece of clothing is a sewing sample, produced to demonstrate how the stitching should be done. This dress is no more than
A Rare Stirling Gift, Mauchlineware Souvenir
Today, visitors expect – and get – quality souvenirs at our visitor attractions. Today’s object from the Smith collections is a souvenir which is at least 155 years old, and was sold in the Douglas Room within Stirling Castle. It is a bound book containing frames for 48 cartes de