The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
The Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery
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| (Hunter, writing to Dr William Cullen)
In 1783 William Hunter bequeathed his substantial and varied collections to the University of Glasgow. They were 'to be well and carefully packed up and safely conveyed to Glasgow and delivered to the Principal and Faculty of the College of Glasgow to whom I give and bequeath the same to be kept and preserved by them and their successors for ever.... in such sort, way, manner and form as .... shall seem most fit and most conducive to the improvement of the students of the said University of Glasgow.' Hunter also bequeathed £8000 for the construction of a suitable museum. Designed by William Stark, the building, classical in style with a dome on top, was erected in the gardens of the College behind the High Street. The heating system was designed by James Watt. The Museum was opened to the public in 1807 'from twelve until two every day, except Sunday.' The Hunterian is thus Scotland's oldest museum. 'On entering these rooms the eye is highly gratified with the taste and elegance of the dome rising from the centre supported by eight massy stone pillars of the Corinthian order' (J. Laskey, 1813). The busts are of the poet Thomas Campbell and the painter Gavin Hamilton. | ||
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