Watercolour of one of Edinburgh's most treasured buildings.
 
The Scottish National Gallery, now officially called the National, is Scotland’s premier art gallery, located on The Mound in central Edinburgh. Housed in a neoclassical building designed by William Henry Playfair, it opened in 1859 and features Scotland’s national collection of fine art from the Renaissance to the early 20th century.
 
Ground and first floors host prime European masterpieces, while the top floor focuses on pre-1530 early Renaissance pieces. Often confused with the adjacent Royal Scottish Academy building, it draws art lovers for its world-class holdings in a compact, visitor-friendly space.
 
Interesting facts...
An 1850 plan by Robert F. Gourlay proposed underground swimming baths and plunge pools directly beneath the gallery site on The Mound. Not surprisingly this was abandoned as for fear the paintings could be damaged.