Edinburgh Art Festival Menu Alison Watt | A Portrait Without Likeness Scottish National Portrait Gallery This significant body of new work consists of paintings made in response to the practice of the celebrated eighteenth-century portrait artist Allan Ramsay (1713-84) and are on show for the first time. The exhibition explores the artist’s continuing fascination with Ramsay’s portraits. Watt, most known for her beautiful and intricate large-scale paintings of drapery and folds, has long been an admirer of Ramsay’s portraits of women, in particular the intensely personal images of his first and second wives, Margaret Lindsay of Evelick and Anne Bayne. Both portraits are in the Gallery’s collection and will be shown alongside Watt’s new work. The exhibition is the fruit of a long period of study of the extensive archive of Ramsay paintings, drawings and sketchbooks held by National Galleries of Scotland. Watt has said, “Looking into an artist’s archive is to view the struggle that takes place to make a work of art. A painting is a visual record of the inside of the artist’s mind. A painting is something that takes place over time; it is not static. To look at a work of art is to engage with an idea, and that is not a one sided activity. It’s more of a conversation.” Alison Watt | A Portrait Without Likeness ARTIST Alison Watt VENUE Scottish National Portrait Gallery 1 Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1JD 0131 624 6200 enquiries@nationalgalleries.org www.nationalgalleries.org OPENING TIMES 17 July – 9 January 2022 Thursday – Sunday 10am – 5pm VISITOR INFORMATION Wheelchair Accessible Accessible Toilets Toilets Café Shop Bike Stand Hearing Loop COVID SAFETY All festival venues have safety measures in place to follow the latest Government advice and guidelines Find out more TICKET INFORMATION Free, advance booking required Book now SOCIALS Instagram Facebook Twitter Scottish National Portrait Gallery Home to some of the world’s most famous art, the National Galleries of Scotland comprises four gallery buildings in Edinburgh: the Scottish National Gallery, the Scottish National Portrait Gallery, and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art (Modern One and Two). Find out more Scottish National Portrait Gallery 1 Queen St, Edinburgh EH2 1JD View Venue Open in Google Maps You Might Also Like A selection of similarly themed events Artist in-conversation – Sean Lync… Online Daily 24hr Art Late – 1 Online Daily 24hr Art Late – 2 Online Daily 24hr Thomas Joshua Cooper | The World’s Edge Scottish National Portrait Gallery Thursday – Sunday 10am – 5pm Header image credit: Alison Watt, Centifolia, 2019 © Alison Watt Join the mailing list The Festival About the Festival Equalities Accessibility Privacy Policy Contact Us What's On Partner Exhibitions Events Archive DIY Art Support Us Support Us Make A Donation Shop Our Funders And Supporters Edinburgh Art Festival, Institut français d’Ecosse, West Parliament Square, Edinburgh, EH1 1RF, 0131 226 6558, info@edinburghartfestival.com Registered charity no. SC038360, Company registration no. SC314596 We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept All”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. However, you may visit "Cookie Settings" to provide a controlled consent. Cookie Settings Accept All