Old Parliament House

Category

Library Item

Item no

600

Title

Old Parliament House

Description

Old Parliament House in Edinburgh is a large building with many turrets and windows. Four of the doorways have ornate stonework and carvings. The words Gold Smiths Hall are written on the building to the right. In the courtyard is the statue of Charles II on a horse, dressed as a Roman Emperor. The statue sits on top of a plinth which is surrounded by a wooden fence. There is wooden decking on the ground; it is bordered by rough uneven ground. Men, women and children are walking around the scene.

Artist / maker

Skene, James

Date

1828

Size

17 x 20 cm

Type

Watercolour

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The artist has annotated the picture with "Destroyed by a new front AD 1808" so this piece could not have been painted from life.

Parliament House stands immediately to the south of St Giles Kirk. It was constructed between 1632-40, at Charles I's instruction, to house the Scottish Parliament. It continued in this role, with the interruption of Cromwell's interregnum, until the Act of Union in 1707. It now houses the Court of Session. The original frontage of the building is concealed behind an early 19th Century façade designed by Robert Reid. Inside the building the original Parliament Hall is notable for its oak hammerbeam roof and a large stained glass window.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Statues

Government > National > Parliaments

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

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