# Scottish National Gallery

> part of National Galleries Scotland in Edinburgh

**Wikidata**: [Q942713](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q942713)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scottish_National_Gallery)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/scottish-national-gallery

## Summary
The Scottish National Gallery is an art museum located in Edinburgh, Scotland, functioning as a building or space for the exhibition of art. Established in 1859, it is part of the National Galleries Scotland and was designed by the Scottish architect William Henry Playfair.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** The gallery was established in 1859.
- **Classification:** It is defined as an art museum, specifically a building or space for the exhibition of art.
- **Location:** The institution is situated in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, within the United Kingdom.
- **Coordinates:** Its geographic coordinates are approximately 55.9509° N, 3.1957° W.
- **Parent Organization:** It is part of, owned by, and operated by National Galleries Scotland.
- **Architect:** The building was designed by William Henry Playfair (1790–1857), a Scottish architect.
- **Website:** The official visitation URL is https://www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/scottish-national-gallery.
- **Aliases:** The entity is also known as the National Gallery of Scotland, National Gallery on the Mound, The Mound, and National Galleries of Scotland: National.
- **Administrative Body:** National Galleries Scotland is an executive non-departmental public body founded in 1906 with 327 employees and headquarters in Edinburgh.

## FAQs
**Where is the Scottish National Gallery located?**
The gallery is located in Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland, within the council area of the City of Edinburgh and the country of the United Kingdom.

**Who operates and manages the Scottish National Gallery?**
It is owned, operated, and constitutes a part of National Galleries Scotland, an executive non-departmental public body established in 1906.

**When was the Scottish National Gallery built and who designed it?**
The gallery was established in 1859 and was designed by the Scottish architect William Henry Playfair, who lived from 1790 to 1857.

**What type of institution is the Scottish National Gallery?**
It is classified as an art museum, serving as a physical building or space dedicated to the exhibition of art.

**What are other names used to refer to the Scottish National Gallery?**
The institution is known by several aliases, including the National Gallery of Scotland, National Gallery on the Mound, The Mound, and Edinburgh National Gallery of Scotland.

## Why It Matters
The Scottish National Gallery serves as a critical cultural institution within the United Kingdom by providing a dedicated space for the exhibition of art in Scotland's capital. As a constituent part of National Galleries Scotland, it contributes to the broader mission of a major executive non-departmental public body to manage and display national art collections. Its historical significance is underscored by its 1859 inception and its association with William Henry Playfair, a prominent Scottish architect, anchoring it as a long-standing fixture in Edinburgh's architectural and cultural landscape.

## Notable For
- **Architectural Heritage:** Designed by William Henry Playfair, a notable figure in Scottish architecture active during the early 19th century.
- **Institutional Status:** Operates as a key component of National Galleries Scotland, a body with over 300 employees.
- **Geographic Identity:** Situated on "The Mound," a location reflected in one of its primary aliases.
- **Longevity:** Has functioned as an art museum since its establishment in the mid-19th century (1859).

## Body

### Identity and Classification
The Scottish National Gallery is classified specifically as an art museum, distinct from the institution that manages it. It serves as a building or space for the exhibition of art, rather than being classified solely as an administrative institution. The entity is recognized by multiple aliases, including "National Gallery Of Scotland," "National Gallery on the Mound," "The Mound," "Edinburgh National Gallery of Scotland," and "National Galleries of Scotland: National." It maintains a significant online presence through its official website.

### Location and Geography
Geographically, the Scottish National Gallery is positioned in the northern hemisphere at coordinates 55.9508997388223 latitude and -3.19566063695603 longitude. It resides within the City of Edinburgh council area. Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and is part of the United Kingdom, an island country in north-west Europe. The gallery's specific location is often referred to as "The Mound," an artificial hill in Edinburgh.

### Administration and Ownership
The gallery is intrinsically linked to National Galleries Scotland, which acts as its parent organization, owner, and operator. National Galleries Scotland is an executive non-departmental public body that was founded in 1906. This administrative body employs 327 people and has its headquarters located in Edinburgh. The relationship between the gallery and the body is comprehensive, with the gallery listed as a subsidiary or component part of the larger National Galleries Scotland framework.

### History and Architecture
The historical foundation of the Scottish National Gallery dates back to 1859. The physical structure is attributed to William Henry Playfair, a Scottish architect born in 1790 who died in 1857. Playfair held citizenship in the Kingdom of Great Britain and the United Kingdom, and his occupation is listed as an architect. His design provides the gallery with its architectural identity, situating the building within the historical context of 19th-century Scottish design.

## References

1. archINFORM
2. [Source](https://vocaleyes.co.uk/research/heritage-access-2022/benchmark/)
3. [Source](https://www.nationalgalleries.org/visit/scottish-national-gallery)
4. [Source](https://www.frick.org/exhibitions/scottish/introduction)
5. Historic Environment Scotland ID
6. Integrated Authority File
7. CiNii Research
8. Art UK website
9. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
10. [National Gallery of Scotland. | Open Library](https://openlibrary.org/authors/OL884578A/National_Gallery_of_Scotland.)
11. Visitor Figures 2015
12. Art's most popular : Exhibition and museum visitor figures 2021
13. Virtual International Authority File
14. [Source](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aipro.php)