Display

Poussin's Sacraments

Open daily, 10am–5pm

Admission free

About

Painted in Rome by the French artist Nicolas Poussin, the Seven Sacraments is one of the greatest sets of paintings in the history of Western art. The founder of the classical tradition in French art, Poussin aimed to achieve a noble and pure style of painting, preferring to paint for private patrons who shared his scholarly interests. He was known to have carefully planned his compositions, using wax figures arranged on a model stage to produce the desired effect.

This series of paintings is remarkable for its clarity, symmetry and quiet restraint, with drama created through gesture and contrasts of light and shade. The Seven Sacraments represents each of the seven holy rites of the Roman Catholic Church: Baptism, Confirmation, Marriage, Penance, Ordination, Holy Eucharist and Extreme Unction. Poussin’s aim in painting the series was to convey the solemn nature and religious learning within each rite.

The second series of the Seven Sacraments was painted for Paul Fréart de Chantelou, a French collector and patron of the arts. Chantelou was a friend of the Italian scholar and collector Cassiano dal Pozzo, who had commissioned the first series from Poussin in the late 1630’s. The situation of each scene in the series within the context of Early Christian History was partly in response to Chantelou’s demands, as well as Poussin’s intellectual interests. Close attention paid to archaeological detail in each of the paintings. When originally displayed, each painting would have been protected with a curtain and viewed individually.

The first version of the Seven Sacraments has since been dispersed. The second version was purchased by the 3rd Duke of Bridgewater in 1798, and forms part of the Bridgewater Collection, on loan to the  Scottish National Gallery since 1945.

Event accessibility

Display accessibility

  • Wheelchair access

Location

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Accessibility

Gallery facilities

Detailed information on accessibility at the National Galleries of Scotland

Our partial Changing Places toilet has all of the facilities of a full Changing Places toilet, and though the floor area meets the overall size requirement (13.54m2 minimum), it is just a little too narrow to be classed as a full Changing Places toilet. 

There are a limited number of small lockers available, but there is no space to store large items of luggage.

There is limited on street parking close by including for those with a blue badge. 

  • Information desk
  • Wifi
  • Wheelchair access
  • Accessible toilets
  • Changing places toilet
  • Wheelchairs available
  • Public toilets
  • Lockers (£1/£2)
  • Baby changing facilities
  • Buggy park
  • Seating throughout
  • Bike rack
  • Café
  • Restaurant
Getting here

Getting here

The National can be found just off Princes Street in the city centre.

Venue map
  • Open daily, 10am–5pm
The Mound, Edinburgh, EH2 2EL

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