people's palace

Set on Glasgow Green, this red stone building of 1898 is a museum that captures the wit, eccentricity and gritty character of the city. It tells the history of Glasgow through familiar objects and quotes from real people. A house model of a prefabricated house highlights the story of tenement housing, and a mock up of a 'steamie', or communal wash-house brings the city's social history to life. 

People's Palace

The People's Palace is a must see if you want to learn about the social and working class history that defines Glasgow as a city. It may just be the history nerd in me but it was really interesting learning about the people, incidents, and issues that characterize this city. The museum is also very colourful and exciting to walk around in because of the mock setups.

Me as a little girl on a donkey. Typical.

Outside the Palace is the Doulton Fountain, the largest terracotta fountain in the world. It was given to the City of Glasgow by Sir Henry Doulton and first erected in Kelvingrove Park in 1888. In 1890 it was moved to Glasgow Green, present there 8 years before the Palace opened. 

Doulton Fountain

Outside the Fountain

I am hoping to go back on a sunny day to capture the prettiness of the building and fountain. Those days are limited here though so we will see if it happens!

burrell collection

The Burrell Collection is housed in a modern, purpose built museum set in Pollock Country Park. From the outside it appears modest and unassuming. Inside is a treasure trove of decorative arts, crafts, and paintings, from all corners of the world. The overall impressions in the museum is of a few outstanding items very well displayed, so it is never overwhelming. 

Burrell Collection

The priceless collection of varied pieces of art from around the world was gifted to Glasgow in 1944 by Sir William Burrell and his wife, Constance. Burrell has collected rare and precious works of art since his teens. The buildings huge feature walls of glass seem to pull the greenery inside and effectively showcase the work. Hundreds of panels from the stained glass collection are incorporated into the windows, where the natural daylight reveals their jewel-like colours. 

Stained glass

The collection featured Medieval tapestries, Oriental art, Rembrandt self-portrait, Degas pictures, and Manet sketches. Some of my favourites included the arms and armour, the needlework room, and the Mezzanine floor, specifically the work of Degas. Burrell collected many paintings by the great French artist of the 19th century. He is best known for his images of ballet dancers, in paint and in bronze, which were some of my favourites. 

Degas: The Rehearsal

Manet: Women Drinking Beer

After initially arriving 45 minutes too early to enter the Burrell Collection (but getting to see this) the day turned out quite nicely. The collection provided an interesting insight to a man who was fascinated by art and the world around him. Definitely a must see.

Entrance to Burrell Collection

My Mom and I enjoying the surrounding area

Plus we got to take in parts of the lovely Pollock Country Park!

kelvingrove

Admiring Kelvingrove

On Thursday my mom and I went to the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum. In my guide book to Scotland it said that it was geared to kids - in that it had interactive games and lots of colours - so this was basically THE perfect museum for me. The exterior is stunning, and possibly my favourite building so far (although there are a few competitors which I will show soon).

Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum

The typical jumping shot outside Kelvingrove

Interior corridor of Kelvingrove 

Although random, one of the most memorable things we learned at Kelvingrove was that there is a tiny island 41 miles west of the Scotland mainland that most people are unaware of. A small population of 180 islanders lived a secluded life until the late 1800's, where contact with the outside world increased and a loss of self-sufficiency occurred. By 1930 the remaining 36 islanders were evacuated from St. Kilda. Today it is a world heritage site owned by the National Trust of Scotland. Click here to find out more about the island that I quickly became fascinated by.

a lovely little rose

After hearing much about the work of Charles Rennie Mackintosh I knew it was something I had to see. As I've realized it is hard to miss his work - he seems to be everywhere! He and his wife had great influence on both architecture and design throughout Glasgow. While working in architecture he developed his own style, incorporating a contrast between strong angles and floral inspired decorative motifs.

My mom and I visited the Mackintosh House at the Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery yesterday. It is a reconstruction of the original house lived in by CRM and his wife Margaret Macdonald Mackintosh. I instantly fell in love with their designs. Although designed in the late 1800's his work continues to feel modern. If you want to learn more about the Mackintosh House go here. 

I got a postcard with his signature rose on it for my scrapbook and my mom picked up a teapot with the same thing. I am on the search for a CRM piece of jewelry. Hopefully I can find one! More to come later on other CRM discoveries.