To celebrate the City Art Centre turning 40 our Learning and Programmes Manager, Margaret Rose Findlay has curated an exhibition featuring choices from past members of staff who had a key role in the City Art Centre and guest curators and artists who have been closely connected to us over the years. We have a variety of classics in this exhibition with people choosing their favourites and telling us why. It is always delightful to get personal insights into our collection. Some old familiars are here, but some surprising choices have been highlighted.

Artists featured in this Curation: John Henry Lorimer (1856–1936), Margaret Thomas (1916–2016), Stanley Cursiter (1887–1976), John Wilson Ewbank (c.1799–1847), William Delacour (1700–1767), Lex Braes (b.1956), Maggie Milne (b.1957), Pat Douthwaite (1934–2002), William Brotherston (b.1943), Jon Schueler (1916–1992), and 12 more
22 artworks
Storyline Album Showcase
The Flight of the Swallows
Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Flight of the Swallows 1906

John Henry Lorimer (1856–1936)

Oil on canvas

H 115 x W 89.6 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Christmas
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Christmas

Margaret Thomas (1916–2016)

Oil & charcoal on wax paper

H 91.5 x W 70.5 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Pachmann at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh
© estate of Stanley Cursiter. All rights reserved, DACS 2024. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Pachmann at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh 1923

Stanley Cursiter (1887–1976)

Oil on canvas

H 86.5 x W 101.6 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Entry of George IV into Edinburgh from the Calton Hill, 1822
Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Entry of George IV into Edinburgh from the Calton Hill, 1822 1827

John Wilson Ewbank (c.1799–1847)

Oil on canvas

H 150.5 x W 240 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

View of Edinburgh
Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

View of Edinburgh 1759

William Delacour (1700–1767)

Oil on canvas

H 108.2 x W 229.1 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013), at Nineteen
© the artist. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Nelson Mandela (1918–2013), at Nineteen 1986

Lex Braes (b.1956)

Oil on canvas

H 208.6 x W 175.6 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Diggers' Triptych
© the artist. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Diggers' Triptych

Maggie Milne (b.1957)

Oil on canvas

H 122 x W 76.5 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Final Instructions before Take-Off
© the Estate of Pat Douthwaite. All rights reserved. DACS 2024. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Final Instructions before Take-Off 1976

Pat Douthwaite (1934–2002)

Oil on canvas

H 152.3 x W 152.3 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Study for a Monument
© the copyright holder. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Study for a Monument 1977

William Brotherston (b.1943)

Bronze

H 40 x W 27.5 x D 20.8 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Summer Day: Sleat (o/c 1070)
© Jon Schueler estate. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Summer Day: Sleat (o/c 1070)

Jon Schueler (1916–1992)

Oil on canvas

H 175 x W 192 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Kirn Pier, Winter
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Kirn Pier, Winter 1960

Ian Fleming (1906–1994)

Oil on canvas

H 71.1 x W 91.9 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Muddy Pool
© the artist. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Muddy Pool

Duncan Shanks (b.1937)

Acrylic on paper

H 148 x W 116.2 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Kimono Study
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Kimono Study 1919

William McCance (1894–1970)

Oil on canvas

H 111.7 x W 76.2 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Rest Time in the Life Class
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Rest Time in the Life Class 1923

Dorothy Johnstone (1892–1980)

Oil on canvas

H 121.5 x W 106.2 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Bibliophilist's Haunt (Creech's Bookshop)
Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Bibliophilist's Haunt (Creech's Bookshop) 1864

William Fettes Douglas (1822–1891)

Oil on canvas

H 66.3 x W 86.7 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Happy Valley (I)
© the artist. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Happy Valley (I) 1999

Moyna Flannigan (b.1963)

Oil on linen

H 200 x W 135 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Coal Yard
© the artist. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Coal Yard 1988

Kate Downie (b.1958)

Acrylic & coal dust on canvas

H 170 x W 177.5 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Blue Lamp
© The Fergusson Gallery, Perth and Kinross Council, Scotland. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Blue Lamp 1912

John Duncan Fergusson (1874–1961)

Oil on panel

H 66 x W 57.2 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

North Bridge and Salisbury Crags, Edinburgh, from the North West
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

North Bridge and Salisbury Crags, Edinburgh, from the North West

Adam Bruce Thomson (1885–1976)

Oil on canvas

H 109.2 x W 137.1 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Loom
Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

The Loom

John Quinton Pringle (1864–1925)

Oil on canvas

H 30.7 x W 37.5 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Scented Arrow
© the artist's estate. Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Scented Arrow 1961

Alan Davie (1920–2014)

Oil on paper laid on canvas

H 43.2 x W 54.6 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

William MacGregor, an Edinburgh Porter
Image credit: Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

William MacGregor, an Edinburgh Porter

James Cumming (1732–1793) (attributed to)

Oil on canvas

H 76.2 x W 62.2 cm

Museums & Galleries Edinburgh – City of Edinburgh Council

Explore artists in this Curation

View all 22
  • William Delacour (d.1767), First Master of the Trustees' Academy, Self Portrait
    William Delacour (1700–1767)
  • The Blue Hat, Closerie des Lilas
    John Duncan Fergusson (1874–1961)
  • Study for a Monument
    William Brotherston (b.1943)
  • Once Upon Our Time No. 40
    Moyna Flannigan (b.1963)
  • Anne Finlay (1898–1963)
    Dorothy Johnstone (1892–1980)
  • Still Life at a Window
    Adam Bruce Thomson (1885–1976)
  • Blue Shadow Blues (o/c 1341)
    Jon Schueler (1916–1992)
  • Sacrifice
    Alan Davie (1920–2014)
  • Harbour Pattern: The Rainbow
    Ian Fleming (1906–1994)
  • William McCance (1894–1970), Artist, Illustrator and Typographer, Self Portrait
    William McCance (1894–1970)
  • View all 22
View all