Exhibition: Portraits of artists will be on show until June. Pic: © Deadline
Scots artists are being put under the spotlight in a new exhibition of portraits.
The Artist Up Close is a collection of portraits of some of Scotland’s most famous artists created by themselves, their friends or family.
Prints and drawings from the national collection spanning the last 300 years will go on display.
They include a self-portrait scribbled on the cover of a book of nursery rhymes by an 11-year-old Eduardo Paolozzi while he was studying at Leith Walk Primary School. It is believed to be the earliest work by the pop artist.
A self-portrait of Allan Ramsay, aged 20, in also included. He went on to become one of the most successful portrait painters in the 18th century.
Portraits by family members are also included. A study of Alexander Runciman by his younger brother John Runciman shows the close relationship between them. Alexander taught John how to draw and they travelled to Italy together for artistic training.
Friendships are also seen in the exhibition with a pair of reciprocal portraits by Henry Raeburn and his mentor David Deuchar on show. It is a rare opportunity to see the earliest known work of Raeburn.
The Artist Up Close opens on Thursday and runs until June 5 at the National Galleries on the Mound. Admission is free.
