The art collections at Inverness Museum and Art Gallery feature paintings dating from the eighteenth century to the present day. The collection focuses on the people, history and landscape of Inverness and the Highlands. This broad description includes subjects as diverse as the Jacobite rising of 1745, the oil industry and iconic mountain landscapes.
Inverness Museum opened in 1881 and began to develop as a Highland and Jacobite collection. One of the important early additions was a group of historic Stuart portraits donated by the family of Prince Frederick Duleep Singh, including a portrait of Prince Charles Edward Stuart attributed to Pompeo Batoni. Subsequent additions include examples of Highland landscapes by Scottish artists including Alexander Nasmyth, Thomas Scott, and John Quinton Pringle. The remainder of the collection is twentieth century and comprises works gifted by the Scottish Arts Council and recent contemporary work from young Highland and Scottish artists.
Paintings in the collection include 'Barrogill Castle' by Thomas Scott, 'Loch Ness' by Jane Nasmyth and 'Buchaille Etive Mhor I' by Reinhard Behrens.
The collection and facilities at this location are managed by High Life Highland on behalf of Highland Council.
Inverness Museum and Art Gallery is open Thursday to Saturday, 10am–5pm (1st November to 31st March); Tuesday to Saturday, 10am–5pm (1st April to 31st October). Paintings not currently on display can be viewed by appointment.