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Records of the National Art Survey of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland

551 162

Description Records of the National Art Survey of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland

Collection Records of the National Art Survey of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland

Catalogue Number 551 162

Category All Other

Scope and Content A large collection comprising 1,500 sheets of measured survey drawings prepared by the bursars. The drawings cover a very wide range of building types from Linlithgow Palace, Holyrood and the Border Abbeys to 18th-century Country Houses like Pollok and Dumfries House. The collection includes churches, castles, tower houses and many urban buildings in Stirling and Edinburgh, decorative detail, plasterwork and furniture. See I Gow, 'Sir Rowand Anderson's National Art Survey of Scotland', Architectural History, Vol.27, 1984, 543-554. The collection includes photographs which seem to have been taken primarily for exhibition panels displayed alongside the finished survey drawings in the annual exhibitions of the work of the Edinburgh School of Applied Art. Twenty-five exhibition panels survive, and a few show the Bursars engaged in survey work.

Archive History In 1958 the Trustees of the National Galleries presented the original drawings to the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, and the tracings were presented to the Scottish National Buildings Record. In 1966 the sets were amalgamated on the foundation of the National Monuments Record of Scotland.

Access Conditions There are no restrictions upon access.

Administrative History From 1895 the National Art Survey Bursars at the Edinburgh School of Applied Art (founded 1892) worked under the personal supervision of the Director, Sir Rowand Anderson. The Bursars, selected from the best draughtsmen trained by the school, were appointed annually. The surveys were undertaken during the summer, and the finished pencil and colour wash drawings were prepared during the winter.The completed drawings were preserved in the school to create a library of exemplars which Anderson intended should imbue the students with a traditional Scottish idiom of design. In 1903 Anderson's school was amalgamated with the Board of Manufacturers' School of Art, but the bursaries were continued. Although attempts were made to involve the other Scottish art schools, only Glasgow played an active part. From 1907 the original drawings were preserved by the newly established Trustees of the National Gallery of Scotland. Anderson, however, pressed for a set of tracings to be made for the Edinburgh College's use. Anderson's concern for the NASS led to pressure from the newly founded Institute of Scottish Architects which resulted in publication of the drawings. The 'National Art Survey of Scotland. Examples of Scottish Architecture from the 12th to the 17th Century' appeared in four volumes between 1921 and 1933.

Accruals No further accruals are expected.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1176461

Collection Hierarchy - Collection Level

Collection Level (551 162) Records of the National Art Survey of Scotland, Edinburgh, Scotland

Preview Category Catalogue Number Title Date Level
All Other 551 162/1 Drawings in the National Art Survey of Scotland Collection Group Level
All Other FID 58/6 Photostat copy of FID/58/5 c. 1900 Batch Level
All Other WLD 18/5 Hopetoun House. Survey of West, North, East and South elevations and plaster ceiling plan of small library showing panelling. Titled: 'Hopetoun House, Linlithgowshire' 5/1899 Batch Level
All Other MOD 8/34 Elevation of choir. c. 1900 Batch Level
All Other MOD 162/1 Plan, section, elevation and details of chancel arch. c. 1900 Batch Level
All Other DC 50458 Perspective view. 9/1901 Item Level
All Other AYD 41/21 Rubbing of inscription on step to well. 1907 Item Level
All Other J 12787 P Copy of photograph of detached headstone crown carved in the shape of a cherub. 1900 Item Level
All Other J 12789 P Copy of photograph of corbel showing the Arma Christi. 1900 Item Level
All Other J 12786 P Copy of photograph of grave stone of William [Barclay?] 1900 Item Level
All Other J 12792 P Copy of photograph of Mansion House, York 1900 Item Level
All Other J 12788 P Copy of photograph of corbel. 1900 Item Level
All Other J 12790 P Copy of photograph of the Old Court House, Stirling 1900 Item Level
All Other J 12791 P Copy of photograph of the Old Court House, Stirling 1900 Item Level
All Other J 12793 P Copy of photograph of an unidentified stone church window frame. 1900 Item Level
All Other J 12794 P Copy of photograph of an unidentified ornately decorated ceiling. 1900 Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images SC 1240759 Historic photographic view of Chapel Royal, Stirling Castle from S. 1901 Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images SC 365738 Iona Abbey, detail of sedilia prior to restoration work. c. 1900 Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images SC 366501 Iona, Iona Abbey. View of cloister from East, prior to restoration work. c. 1900 Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images SC 369414 West front: plan, elevation and section of South half, St Andrews Cathedral. Insc. 'R. Campbell, May 1901'. 5/1901 Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images SC 369415 East front of Chancel, plan and elevation, St Andrews Cathedral. insc. 'John L. Peddie, May 1901' 1901 Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images SC 369422 View of Cloisters from North East at St Andrews Cathedral. c. 1900 Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images SC 369423 View of Cloisters from South East. c. 1900 Item Level
On-line Digital Images On-line Digital Images SC 369425 View of East gable from East. c. 1900 Item Level

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