Architecture Notes

Event ID 760877

Category Descriptive Accounts

Type Architecture Notes

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/760877

NT27SE 243 25433 73742

Incorporated Royal Scottish Academy until 1911.

ARCHITECT: William Playfair 1851

Thomas Hamilton -projected National Gallery & Royal Scottish Academy buildings 1848

(John Kinross - design for a new gallery with Usher Hall on Lothian Road site)

REFERENCE: EDINBURGH UNIVERSITY LIBRARY-PLANS

Playfair Collection -35 sheets (see P.26)

-1850-130 (P.38)

REFERENCE: SCOTTISH RECORD OFFICE

NG/6/5/2 Design of trowel for ceremony of laying foundation stone of National Gallery by the Prince Consort. July 30th 1850.

Building Committee Minutes: "The Design of a Trowel prepared by Mr Christie, and to be executed in Silver Gilt for His Royal Highness Prince Albert was then shown to the Committee and Mr MacKay of the firm of MacKay and Cunningham, Silversmiths being in attendance and having shown some specimens of trowels and of the style of engraving, the Design of Mr Christies' trowel was approved of, and the trowel was ordered to be got ready immediately-the Arms of the Board of Manufactures to be engraved upon it in front, with a presentation inscription as follows: 'Presented by the Board of Trustees for Manufactures &c to His Royal Highness The Prince Albert on laying the first stone of the National Gallery at Edinburgh. 30th August 1850'".

Subsequently at the meeting of 27th August the finished trowel was "much admired" and the case was still making.

Minutes of Building Committee: Building completed by James Hamilton, clerk to W H Playfair, on death of Playfair. Trowel designed by Christie for foundation ceremony. First design altered on grounds of economy-Contractor lind, carpenter fails. RSA side finished first. Cost 50,430 14 7. [pounds].

Edinburgh, The Mound, National Gallery of Scotland.

NMRS REFERENCE.

Ian Gow: Notes on the building history. Letter to the keeper, National Gallery of Scotland, 3 Sept 1985.