The Scottish National Portrait Gallery is housed in a neo-gothic building in red sandstone. Statues of William Wallace and Robert the Bruce guard the entrance. “Once inside the building, the Main Hall proves a breathtaking introduction to Scottish history.”

“Along the first-floor balustrade runs a processional or pageant frieze that depicts many famous Scots in reverse chronological order. Starting with Thomas Carlyle, it was designed as a ‘visual encyclopaedia’ and includes figures such as David Livingstone, James Watt, Robert Burns, Adam Smith, David Hume, the Stuart monarchs, Robert the Bruce and Saint Ninian. The artist, William Hole, also painted a series of large-scale murals on the first floor.”

William Hole (1846-1917) was also the illustrator of many novels, including James Barrie (1860-1937), A Window in Thrums; with twelve illustrations from etchings by William Hole … Sixteenth edition (London: Hodder and Stoughton, 1898). Rare Books: Morris L. Parrish Collection (ExParrish) PR4074 .W56 1898