Glasgow
- Kelvingrove Park
- Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
  (history)

The Scotland Guide
www.scotland-guide.co.uk
© David Williams

106

The construction of the building was financed by the proceeds of the 1888 International Exhibition and it allowed the city`s collections to be brought together in one place. Its style has been called Hispanic Baroque but there is a mixture of influences and its design got a poor reception from the Scottish architectural profession; the fact that the winners of the prestigious architectural competition were English didn`t help. Early reactions to the building included `far too much a casino … sadly wanting in sobriety`.

It`s an oft-repeated story (and for the sake of completeness, it is re-told here) that the museum was built back to front in error and that the architect committed suicide when he realised what had happened - the tale is always strenuously denied of course, but it`s part of Glasgow folklore. What is true, however, is that when the building was the centrepiece of the 1901 International Exhibition, the other (temporary) buildings were erected facing the museum`s rear entrance so this side assumed the role of the main entrance.


Back to the main description of the building.

This article is based on the guidebook "The Glasgow Guide".

This statue of St Mungo is the main work of art at the rear of the building.

List of Kelvingrove Park articles:
Kelvingrove Park

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