The Fiery Cross by James Drummond (1816 – 1877)
The Fiery Cross by James Drummond, is one of the great history paintings in the Smith collection, acquired through a bequest of the artist, a few years after the Smith opened, in 1877. It shows the ‘Fiery Cross’, a Celtic signal used as a call to arms, arriving at Stirling
Eduardo Paolozzi
The summer exhibition showcasing the Treasures of the Smith opened last week and runs until 4 October. ‘Crash Head’ by Eduardo Paolozzi, created in 1972, is perhaps one of the lesser known sculptures in the collection. It was gifted by the Scottish Arts Council in 1998, when the decision was
The Washer Men of Cowie Colliery
The Polmaise Colliery exhibition continues at the Smith. This photograph is from Cowie Colliery, located in Bannockburn. It opened in 1894, ten years earlier than Polmaise, and closed in 1953.The image dates from the 1920s and is of the men who tended the machines which washed the dust from
Simon Bolivar, The Wallace of South America
The Stirling Smith collection contains many treasures, some of which have seen better days and are in need of major conservation work. Many are anonymous, like this ‘Portrait of a Man in Uniform’. When it was published in the Public Foundation Catalogue of paintings in public collections it was recognised
The Boy Scout, 1957
This statuette in cast aluminium alloy, varnished in brown and with gold highlights is one of several items donated to the Stirling Smith by the late Dr. Ken Mackay (1931-2014). Ken was a life-long Scout, and the trophy was presented to him for his services to the 54th Dundee Scout
Oswald and Friend, Ailsa Black
The Ailsa Black exhibition featuring beasts both wild and domestic finishes this week. One beast which will be remaining in the Stirling Smith’s collection is Ailsa’s whimsical portrait of cat-in-charge Oswald. The painting has been purchased by an anonymous benefactor as a tribute to all of the marketing and publicity
Counting the Cash – The Stirling Smith Bank Note Collection
Two of our volunteers, Ben and Rachel have been working on scanning and documenting our bank note collection. Apart from local banks we also have notes from the American Revolutionary war 1771 – 1783 and the American Civil war; 1861-1865. Collecting mementos of war in the form of notes
Westward by Ian Campbell (1902 – 1983)
Keeping on the theme of ‘Stirling, the Artists’ Town’, here is another example of a great work in the Stirling Smith’s collections by a Scottish artist who lived locally. Ian Campbell was born in Oban in 1902 and studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1921 to 1925, where he