National Galleries of Scotland

The main component of the Scottish National Portrait Gallery’s Reference Section is the Portrait Archive which has two sections, the Sitters’ Files and the Artists’ Files. The former consists of 26,000 reproductions of portraits in private and public collections, representing over 11,500 Scots. The latter comprises 30,000 photographs of portraits by Scottish artists.

Images have been gathered from countrywide photographic surveys, auction houses and museums and private individuals across the world. The Portrait Archive also includes photographs of Scotsmen and women, commissioned by the Gallery from 1931 as part of a Photographic Record of Distinguished Contemporaries.

With its emphasis on Scottish sitters and artists, the Archive is a unique resource for those studying Scottish history, portraiture and iconography. The Reference Section also includes a small collection of Scottish artists’ papers.

Access

The Reference Section is open by appointment, Monday to Friday 10am-1pm and 2-4.30pm. Please telephone 0131 624 6407 or email pginfo@nationalgalleries.org to make an appointment.

First-time visitors will be asked to show some form of ID such as a passport or driver’s licence.

There is wheelchair access to the Library via a lift.

WiFi is available in the Library.

Groups of up to fifteen are welcome to visit the Reference Section, visits should be pre-booked at least four weeks in advance.