Royal Scottish Academy Building

The Royal Scottish Academy building is the home of the Royal Scottish Academy and is an art museum located in Edinburgh, Scotland. You can find it at the junction of The Mound and Princes Street right in the heart of the city. It was built by William Henry Playfair between 1822 and 1826.

Together with the nearby National Gallery of Scotland, the building's neo-classical design helped shape Edinburgh into a place often called "the Athens of the North." Today, this important structure is protected as a Category A listed building.

History

Princes Street, 1825 painting by Alexander Nasmyth of Princes Street, with the construction of the Royal Institution visible, right

The Royal Scottish Academy Building was first suggested in 1821 by the Scottish Board of Manufactures and Fisheries. It was meant to be a shared home for three groups: the Royal Society of Edinburgh, the Royal Institution for the Encouragement of the Fine Arts, and a museum for the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. The building, called the Royal Institution, was designed by the famous Scottish architect William Henry Playfair and built between 1822 and 1826.

Over time, the building changed names and uses. Artists formed the Scottish Academy in 1826 and later became the Royal Scottish Academy. They used space in the building for their art shows. In 1859, a new gallery, the National Gallery of Scotland, was built next door. Today, the Royal Scottish Academy Building is managed by National Galleries Scotland, and the Royal Scottish Academy still has offices there.

Architecture

The RSA building has a special style called neo-classical, inspired by ancient Greek temples. It is made from sandstone blocks and has tall columns around it. On top, there are carvings and statues, including one of Queen Victoria.

In recent years, the building was updated and connected to another gallery nearby. People often mix up this building with the Scottish National Gallery next door, but you can tell them apart by looking at the columns—the RSA has more detailed ones.

Exhibitions

The Royal Scottish Academy shares its exhibition space with other art groups, including the Society of Scottish Artists, Visual Arts Scotland, and the Royal Society of Watercolourists. These groups use the space throughout the year to show their artwork.