Queen Victoria and Prince Albert were so enchanted by Scotland that they decided to find a holiday home in Aberdeenshire.
Surrounded by lochs, mountains and moors, Balmoral castle sits on the banks of the River Dee in Aberdeenshire. It offers a private refuge far from the public eye, and is where the royal couple could indulge their passion for Highland life; from tartans and bagpipes to picnics and porridge.
Balmoral played a key part in establishing a social phenomenon that shaped our view of Scottish culture and identity, both real and invented.
Balmoral Castle, Aberdeenshire
James Cassie (1819–1879)
Oil on canvas
H 61.6 x W 91.7 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
Queen Victoria (1819–1901) 1848
Herbert Luther Smith (1811–1870)
Oil on canvas
H 270 x W 159 cm
Aberdeen City Council Collection
Highland Gathering at Balmoral 1869
Samuel Bough (1822–1878)
Watercolour on paper
H 26.5 x W 46.9 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
The Visit of Queen Victoria to the International Exhibition, Glasgow 1888
John Lavery (1856–1941)
Oil on canvas
H 63.5 x W 76.9 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
Edwin Henry Landseer (1802–1873)
Oil on canvas
H 177.8 x W 312.7 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
Afterglow 1912
Joseph Farquharson (1846–1935)
Oil on canvas
H 152 x W 106.8 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
The Highland Home 1845
John Phillip (1817–1867)
Oil on panel
H 44.7 x W 60.8 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
'O Nannie, wilt thou gang wi'me' 1859
John Phillip (1817–1867)
Oil on canvas
H 68.8 x W 53 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
Baptism in Scotland 1850
John Phillip (1817–1867)
Oil on canvas
H 106.7 x W 157.4 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
Stalking in the Highlands 1853
James Giles (1801–1870)
Watercolour on paper
H 48.5 x W 72.3 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
Loch Duich and the Five Sisters c.1905
Joseph Farquharson (1846–1935)
Oil on canvas
H 50.3 x W 76 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
The Border Widow 1861
William Bell Scott (1811–1890)
Oil on canvas
H 74.6 x W 56 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
John Pettie (1839–1893)
Oil on canvas
H 56.2 x W 45 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
Peter Graham (1836–1921)
Oil on canvas
H 51 x W 76.3 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
Highland Mary 1857
Thomas Faed (1825–1900)
Oil on canvas
H 72.2 x W 55.5 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
John Mitchell (1838–1926)
Watercolour on paper
H 39.2 x W 55.5 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
The Marriage of the Princess Royal 1858
John Phillip (1817–1867)
Oil on panel
H 39.1 x W 67.6 cm
Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
Explore artists in this Curation
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Herbert Luther Smith (1811–1870) -
James Cassie (1819–1879) -
Joseph Farquharson (1846–1935) -
John Pettie (1839–1893) -
James Giles (1801–1870) -
Peter Graham (1836–1921) -
Thomas Faed (1825–1900) -
Edwin Henry Landseer (1802–1873) -
John Phillip (1817–1867) -
William Bell Scott (1811–1890) - View all 13