Edinburgh from the Castle

Category

Library Item

Item no

6698

Title

Edinburgh from the Castle

Description

A classic panoramic view of Edinburgh showing many areas and landmarks of the city. Visible are Princes Street, the Scott Monument, Calton Hill, the art galleries of the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Gallery of Scotland, both on the Mound. Princes Street Gardens, with its pathways straddles either side of the Mound and the railway line.

Artist / maker

Burns, Archibald

Date

1868

Size

10.7 x 16.7 cm

Type

Photograph

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

Calton Hill is situated at the east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh. It rises to a height of 108 metres and is another of the city's hills created by volcanic activity. Several monuments stand on the hill. Most prominent amongst these are the Nelson Monument, built in the shape of a telescope, and the unfinished National Monument, modelled on the Parthenon in Athens.

The National Gallery is situated at the foot of the Mound immediately behind the Royal Scottish Academy. W. H. Playfair was the architect for both buildings. The National Gallery's foundation stone was laid by Prince Albert in 1850 and construction was completed in 1854, 28 years after the Academy. It houses Scotland's largest and most important collection of paintings and sculpture from the Renaissance through to the late 19th century. The building is now linked underground to the Royal Scottish Academy.

The Royal Scottish Academy, originally the Royal Institution, is situated at the junction of Princes Street and the Mound in Edinburgh. Completed in 1826, the building was designed by W. H. Playfair in the Greek Doric style. It was extended and improved by the same architect between 1831 - 36, and a statue of Queen Victoria was added at the front in 1844. The building is now linked underground to the National Gallery. The Academy promotes and exhibits the work of living Scottish artists.

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Related subjects

Architecture > Monuments > Memorial monuments

Landscape > Landscape architectural facilities > Gardens

Places > Edinburgh areas > Calton Hill

Places > Edinburgh areas > Princes Street

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Sport and leisure > Culture > Galleries

(55°56′56″N, 3°12′2″W)