Wednesday, June 15, 2016

National Gallery, Edinburgh Castle and the Museum

Trudged through the drizzle, umbrella in hand, to the National Gallery of Scotland.



The resentment of the cow and the horse over having their stable co-opted for a human birth is quite obvious. Either that or they just don't like angels.


A Botticelli.


A Rafael. And a slightly creepy baby Jesus.


This is credited to 'The Master of the Embroidered Foliage'. It's very impressive.


I don't know what's more hilarious about this sculpture of Cleopatra: her bored expression or the fact the asp is biting her right on the nipple - you'd think that would prompt more of a reaction.



El Greco.


Van Dyck.

Moar Rembrandt!


A Gainsborough portrait of the 4th Duke of Argyll. His name was John. The current Duke (no. 13) is named Torquhil.


The Ladies Waldegrave, by Sir Joshua Reynolds.


Pitt the Elder was a somewhat creepy-looking dude.


Sir Walter Scott, less so.


A Canaletto. He really liked his straight lines.


One of Monet's Haystacks.


They also had Lady Agnew of Lochnaw by John Singer Sargent, but the light wasn't great. Here's what it looks like, though – it's quite striking.


The outside is rather impressive, too.





Next up, Edinburgh Castle.










Field Marshal Haig. Blackadder ruined him for me as well, though in many ways he has himself to blame for that. And I can't stop wondering if he really did have a pet tortoise named Alan.








The oldest building in Edinburgh, St. Margaret's Chapel.











About to see the Scottish crown jewels. There's a mural of previous Scottish kings in the leadup to that; who should I spy on the wall but Macbeth.


One of the coronation gifts was...no, not a cake. It's a hat. But you'd be forgiven for getting confused.







Finally, I had a brief visit to the Scottish museum. It has many of its displays held (and, presumably, guarded) by robots.



I didn't get anywhere near as much time there as I'd have liked; it's huge, with lots of interesting things. I think in hindsight I should have gotten through the castle a lot faster than I did, and come here.

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