Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow, United Kingdom

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is one of Scotland's most popular visitor attractions. The museum has 22 galleries, housing a range of exhibits, including Renaissance art, taxidermy, and artifacts from ancient Egypt.

The gallery is located on Argyle Street, on the banks of the River Kelvin. The construction of Kelvingrove was partly financed by the proceeds of the 1888 International Exhibition held in Kelvingrove Park.

Kelvingrove was reopened by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in 2006 after a three-year closure for major refurbishment and restoration.

Collections

The museum's collections came mainly from the McLellan Galleries and from the old Kelvingrove House Museum in Kelvingrove Park. It has one of the finest collections of arms and armour in the world and a vast natural history collection. The art collection includes many outstanding European artworks, including works by the Old Masters (Vecellio's Madonna and Child with Saint Jerome and Saint Dorothy, Rembrandt van Rijn, Gerard de Lairesse, and Jozef Israëls), French Impressionists (such as Claude Monet, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Camille Pissarro, Vincent van Gogh and Mary Cassatt), Dutch Renaissance, Scottish Colourists and exponents of the Glasgow School.

The museum houses Christ of Saint John of the Cross by Salvador Dalí. The copyright of this painting was bought by the curator at the time after a meeting with Dalí himself. For a period between 1993 and 2006, the painting was moved to the St Mungo Museum of Religious Life and Art.

The museum also contains a large gift of the decorative arts from Anne Hull Grundy, an art collector and philanthropist, covering the history of European jewellery in the 18th and 19th centuries.

User Reviews

Sam Kooiman (5 months ago)
Such an amazing free museum. A beautiful building with beautiful artwork inside. There were lots of seating available to rest. Several lifts. A good amount of bathrooms. Overall a great place to spend an afternoon.

Kurt Delimon (5 months ago)
A great museum with a mix of art, natural history and Scottish history and entrance is free. If you visit during the week there is an organ recital at 13:00 which is interesting and you can hear it in most of the museum. Plan on 2-3 hours to take in the content

Maria Achilleia (6 months ago)
We loved it!!! You can easily spend a whole day there. There are e so much to see in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and museum and all these for free. So many sectors and so many artifacts, truly amazing! Totally recommend it especially for the paintings of Scottish and Dutch artists you can see there!

Paul Varanam (6 months ago)
Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum is an absolute must-visit! The extraordinary collection housed here is both vast and diverse, ranging from fine art masterpieces to fascinating historical artifacts. Each exhibit is thoughtfully curated, offering something for everyone, whether you’re an art lover, history buff, or just curious to explore. The museum itself is beautifully maintained, with every gallery and display space immaculate and well-organized. The building’s stunning architecture adds to the overall experience, making it as much a part of the visit as the collections inside. The staff were friendly and knowledgeable, enhancing the experience with their insights. I can’t recommend Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum enough—it’s a cultural treasure that brilliantly showcases the richness of both art and history.

Christopher Lewis (7 months ago)
Such an incredible art gallery and museum. We spent several hours at Kelvingrove and easily could have spent a few hours more. The exhibits and art are first class and staff are friendly and helpful. The first floor cafe is great to grab a coffee and a slice of cake and you’ll also catch an organ show @ 1pm in the main entrance. A must visit if you’re in Glasgow.

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Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

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