Though the Hunterian collection is a part of the Glasgow University… the collection is a leading attraction in its own right. The Hunterian Museum collection has a wide range of displays (more than 10,000 objects) of palaeontology, entomology, archaeology, geology, numinastics, zoology and ethnography besides design, art and aesthetics. It’s remarkable to think that almost the entire collection was collated by one individual (William Hunter) during his entire life.
A prestigious permanent gallery dedicated to William Hunter and the Roman material from Antoine Hall exists inside the Museum and the Art Gallery (one of the best public art displays of Scotland) holding the largest collection of work by Charles Rennie Mackintosh. You will also find displays pertaining to the comprehensive history of medicine in west Scotland including medical equipment used by Dr Lister besides a range of Lord Kelvin’s and James Watt’s scientific instruments.
The Hunterian is undoubtedly one of Scotland’s best cultural assets and it adds a lot of prestige to the already rich crown of University of Glasgow. The Hunterian collection can be broadly divided into the Museum collections, Hunterian Art Gallery and the Mackintosh House.
History
One of the main attractions of the Glasgow university is a large array of exhibits spanning the worlds of art, medicine, science, culture and history… collectively known as the Hunterian collection. The Hunterian is a gift left to Scotland by Dr William Hunter (1718 to 1783) who spent all his massive wealth (he was also the royal physician of Queen Charlotte) on creating a huge collection that he left to the Glasgow University along with a sizeable amount of money which was used to build the museum facilities.
The Hunterian first opened to the public in 1807 making it the oldest museum of Scotland. Back then the Museum was at the older site of Glasgow University i.e. near the Glasgow Cathedral. In 1870 the Museum shifted to a gorgeous building designed by Gilbert Scott. The huge collection was first displayed at one place but slowly large parts of the collections were separately classified and moved to other parts of the University. The Graham Kerr building now holds the zoology collection while the Hunterian Art Gallery contains the art collections while the Glasgow University Library contains manuscripts and books. The pathological preparations of Dr Hunter and his contemporaries are hosted at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary while the anatomical constructs are hosted in the Thomson building.
Hunterian Museum Collections
Pick up the floor plan and leaflet from the Glasgow University Welcome Point as you enter… it is extremely useful for helping you navigate the Hunterian collections. Remember, that the collections are scattered all over the campus and hosted in different buildings so it might be a little confusing without a map/ floor plan.
Main Gallery
The main Gallery is hosted in the beautiful Gilbert Scott building. Look up to see the upturned boat ceiling that’s worth a million Instagram posts and more. This is the most visited part of the Hunterian collection and the setting and ambience could not have been more dramatic and sophisticated. There are many exhibits here but the most noteworthy of them are…
Lady Shep en Hor Mummy is over 2500 years of age and hails from Thebes in South Egypt. She is covered all over with brightly painted hieroglyphs and is loaded with charms and spells to keep her safe on her journey from this world to the afterlife.
The Bearsden Shark is a 330 million year old shark fossilised in a stone… it’s supposed to be one of the most detailed preserved shark in the world as well as strangest marine specimen seen. You will be able to note its weird toothed spine at the back of its head.
The Chinese Map of the world was created by Jesuit missionary artist Ferdinand Verbiest for the Chinese Emperor Kangxi in 1674. This is supposedly one of the most ancient maps to reach Europe.
Cleopatra VII Coin; one of the most glamorous and powerful queens that the world has seen had personally approved her portrait that was stamped on this coin. The royal lady ruled Egypt with an iron fist with her brother Ptolemy XIII and had legendary political skills. This particular coin is known to be the world’s best visage of Cleopatra. Apart from the Cleopatra Coin there is an admirable collection of 18th century coins that’s second only to the collection owned by the King of France. There is an old Scots Bawbee inside that’s also an important exhibit as well as a lady Shepenhor coin.
Deep Sea Coral
This lovely coral was salvaged by a line fisherman from the bowels of the sea between the islands of Barra and Coll off the west coast of Scotland. The intricacy of its structure is eye catching. The coral is representative of the ‘Darwin Mounds’ that are the oldest and most ecologically important coral ecosystems in the waters of Britain.
Dinosaur Skeleton Collection
A large number Scholars at Hunterian are devoted to research on prehistoric dinosaurs especially those that existed on Scottish land. The main hall has a rather dramatic collection of plesiosaurs and other dinosaurs especially amphibious ones. The first dino footprint discovered in Scotland in the year 1982 is also displayed here.
Antoine Wall Area
The Antoine Wall was a turf and rock wall that was almost double the average height of a man… in mid second century this was the far northern boundary of the Roman Empire. The wall was about 60 km long and even today you can walk along several ruined portions of it near Falkirk. The Hunterian has an entire section devoted to the history of the Antoine Wall, a portion of the said Wall and its archaeological exhibits. The signage and displays chronicle the lives of the hundreds of Roman soldiers who lived and fought along this wall for almost their entire lives.
Note the huge inscriptions on the wall chunks… these were made by Roman soldiers who wanted to mark the sections they constructed. The distance slabs have inscriptions and carvings marking the end of each wall section and some wall drawings show Roman soldiers going about their general life. Coins, shoes, rudimentary games, religious objects, weapons, red samian ware are all on display in this section. The presence of children’s and women’s shoe exhibits here will tell you that high ranking Roman soldiers took along their families to live with them. As you visit the Antoine Wall section the people who created the wall seem to unfurl their lives and it’s fascinating to have a look.
Lord Kelvin
The permanent exhibition on the balcony level of the Hunterian Museum main hall holds the Lord Kelvin collection. Lord Kelvin (originally named William Thompson) was the finest scientist Scotland ever produced and his name is counted in the same breath as Darwin and Lister. He taught at the Glasgow University for 53 years and then became its Chancellor. Lord Kelvin’s genius was so great that an entire system of temperature is named after him. His tide gauge was considered to be one of the best ones ever built, and the biggest technical issues in laying down transatlantic telegraph cables was solved by him. His work in sea safety practices remains unsurpassed and it all began when his nephew died at sea.
The books, papers and correspondences of Lord Kelvin with the leading scientists and engineers of his time including George Boole, CJ Varley, James Clerk Maxwell and JP Joule etc. are a part of the Glasgow University Library Special Collections. The Hunterian is also home to a lot of scientific equipment used by James Watt and surgical equipment used by Joseph Lister.
Zoology Museum
The Zoology Museum is housed in the Graham Kerr building and is intended for showcasing the diversity of the animal kingdom. A huggable stuffed Koala lives in the marsupial display section while a bunch of stuffed antelopes herd in the centre of the gallery. Also on display are marine microscopic animals, worms that dwell in the guts and intestines of other animals and sponges that are pretty enough to look like jewellery. The collection of live animals like frogs, snakes, lizards and invertebrates besides a couple of Iguanas at the entrance of the Hunterian Zoology museum will surprise you!!
The insect collection of the Zoology museum is especially renowned. There are drawers and drawers of display cabinets that feature every possible insect type and invertebrates. In fact about 90% of the total displays in the Zoology museum are of insects. However the skeleton collection including those of big birds like emu, ostrich, moa (now extinct) are visually far more stunning. There is a live insect colony inside that’s full of creepy crawlies… all carefully tended to by the curators of the museum.
The students of Glasgow University use this space for research, lectures and examination prep too. This museum has a dusty secretive feel to it that’s somehow the opposite of the slick and stylish Hunterian main gallery. The wooden display stands with handwritten information panels are especially cute.
Museum of Anatomy
The museum of Anatomy is located in the Thomson building and it hosts the William Hunter Pathology collection that was previously hosted in the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. The Museum of Anatomy collections have a lot of historical importance and had a major role to play in the development of medical science. The museum is frequently used for research and lectures which is why an appointment is required for viewing the collections.
Some of the most visually striking examples are life size plaster casts of dissections of the pregnant uterus and mercury injected preparations of the lymphatic system. There are lots of animal anatomy specimens and 19th century wax models along with specimens made using the techniques of plastination and corrosion. Incidentally Hunter’s focus was primarily on obstetrics and his contributions to field of midwives is unparalleled.
Along with the impressive collection of wet specimens, animal skeletons (a baby elephant and a Plesiosaur included) the museum holds a big collection of death masks. You will find the faces of Sir Isaac Newton, Charles XII of Sweden, Voltaire and even William Hunter himself. Be prepared for viewing eyes, ears, parts of the brain and other body parts preserved in jars and put up on display… this is certainly not a place for the faint hearted.
The Micro Museum
The Wolfson medical building holds the Micro Museum and narrates the story of James Bouglas who served as 60 years as the country doctor of the Carluke town. There are 2 huge multimedia screens inside the small space that detail the timeline of Dr Bouglas apart from details about his student life, tools of trade and important achievements. There is also a big display case that holds personal artefacts and records of pills, potions and treatment procedures apart from amputation technique equipment. This is an interesting place to learn about home surgery practices, historical treatments and modern medicine marvels.
Kelvin Hall
The Kelvin Hall is located towards Argyle Street so you need to exit the formal boundaries of the Glasgow University campus and cross the road. Kelvin Hall once hosted the Transport Museum (read about the new Riverside Transport museum here) and is now a multipurpose venue that holds Glasgow Life and National Library of Scotland. The Hunterians objects are often transferred to Kelvin hall during redesign and reconstruction projects as the Hall is climate controlled enough to preserve most delicate objects and art work. There are lecture theatres, teaching labs and seminar rooms inside the Kelvin Hall.
Hunterian Art Gallery
The Hunterian Art Gallery is located beside the University Library and it holds one of the best collections of public art in Scotland. The displays include pieces by Rembrandt, Scottish Colourists, James Mc Neill Whistler and Charles Rennie Mackintosh. The Hunterian Art Gallery also holds a good collection of Impressionist paintings by Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot, Henri Fantin-Latour, Eugène Louis Boudin, Camille Pissarro and Alfred Sisley. The gallery also represents the work of the Scottish Colourists, Glasgow Boys, and William Mc Taggart well. Work of modern artists like Robin Philipson, Joan Eardley and sculpture by Paolozzi is also represented well in the museum.
The Hunterian Collection has about 900 paintings in total but only about 190 of them are kept in the gallery… the campus holds the rest of them in scattered locations. Scotland’s largest Prints collection consisting of more than 40,000 pieces of work from 15th century to this day… this is one of the biggest assets of the Hunterian collection.
A Lady taking tea is a gorgeous masterpiece created by Jean Simeon Chardin and it’s thought to be a depiction of Marguerite Saintard (Chardin’s wife). An extremely lifelike depiction of a lady serenely sipping away at a steaming hot cup of tea, this oil on canvas was adjudged ‘Scotland’s second favourite painting’ by readers of the Herald. You will find this masterpiece as a part of the cluster of ‘Old Master’ paintings and these include work by Rubens and Rembrandt.
The Entombment by Rembrandt is another painting you should be looking out for. A deeply moving and spiritual work about the burial of Christ into his rock tomb, the work was kept by Rembrandt in his loving room for many years. The entombment is believed to be one of the world’s best devotional paintings.
The gallery hosts some exceptional work of Gavin Hamilton… a celebrated artist who was incidentally an alumnus of Glasgow University. In a painting titled ‘Hectors farewell to Andromache’ the theme of European neoclassicism is aptly demonstrated. You will find a historically accurate depiction of costumes and an overall theme of heroism that upholds the values of classical antiquity.
Whistler Collection
The world’s largest holding of the work of James Mc Neil Whistler (renowned American born painter, aesthete and printmaker) is held in the Hunterian. The collection includes portraits, city scapes, seascapes and night paintings and art. His night views of London and Thames are specially striking and so are his full length portrait and the flamboyantly designed interiors of the Peacock Room.
There are some 80 oil paintings, hundreds of drawings, pastels and watercolours apart from a collection of brushes, etching plates and printmaking tools of the artist. The major part of the work created by Beatrix Philip (Whistlers wife) consisting of sketches, watercolours and oils are also displayed in the Hunterian.
Some of his student work… an early indication of the genius of the artist is also included. Also included as a part of the Whistler collection is the works by his followers. The University Library holds a Special Collection Department that includes press cuttings, memorabilia, catalogues, photographs and books belonging to Whistler.
Mackintosh Collection
The Hunterian Collection of Mackintosh’s work is said to be unrivalled and represents all facets of his output including his work as an artist, designer and architect. About 800 drawings, watercolours and designs along with a selection of furniture and archives of photographs, letters and correspondence is present in the collection. Some selections from this collection are also hosted in the Gallery of the Mackintosh House.
Mackintosh House
Charles Rennie Mackintosh was one of the most influential artist, designer and creative personality that Scotland has ever produced. His work stamps Glasgow beautifully… there is Lighthouse on Mitchell Lane, Mackintosh at the Willow on Sauchiehall Street and numerous other examples. But to have an inside look at the artist’s life… a visit to the Mackintosh House (permanent display) at the Hunterian is most recommended. This is what Mackintosh’s home looked like and it’s obviously a better perspective into the taste of the artist.
Inside it’s a never ending array of pastel carpets and precisely ordered furnishings and an air of numbing precision. Don’t forget that the Mackintoshes lived here in the overtly decorative Victorian era and the austere discipline of the house seems like a severe rebellion. The couple lived at 78 south Park Avenue… this display is a built-to-scale replica of the original home. The selections of bric a brac, furnishings and draperies all showcase the eclectic taste of the man.
There are no guided tours available in this section and no photography is permitted inside. Look out for the Writing Cabinet inside the Mackintosh house studio… it’s made of ebonised mahogany and sycamore with different parts made of glass, mother of pearl, pear tree, glass and silvered metal. Reportedly, one of the priciest pieces designed by Mackintosh, this used a staggering range of materials and sharp geometric angles to create an edgy look. The writing cabinet was sold at an auction in the 1970’s for a staggering price before the University appealed for it to be added to its collections.
It’s possible to view much of the Hunterian collection online including the art gallery exhibits. Simply click on the link below…
https://www.gla.ac.uk/hunterian/collections/searchourcollections/
Ticketing & Tours
- Admission to all the venues of the Hunterian except the Mackintosh House and the Art Gallery special exhibitions is free.
- Admission to the art gallery is free generally but for some special exhibitions a small fee of 3 pounds / 6 pounds is charged
- Admission to the Mackintosh House is 6 pounds. Groups of max size 12 are allowed inside the Mackintosh House at one time. No kinds of bags including handbags are allowed inside the Mackintosh House… these must be stored inside lockers at the basement level.
- The Hunterian offers excellent Museum Student Educator tour programs that last for approximately 30 minutes and are free.
- The Antoine Wall Tour is offered from 11.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. every hour.
- The Main Hall highlights tour and the Science and Innovation and Medical History highlights tour/ Dinosaur tour is offered every half an hour from 10.30 a.m. to 3.30 p.m. The titles of the tour may keep changing and the guides will advise at the beginning of the tour about the tour titles they are offering.
- If you want to know for sure as to which tours are offered on your visit dates then you can ring about 5 days in advance ( call 01 41 330 4221)
Open Hours
- The Hunterian Museum is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
- On Sundays the Hunterian Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. and on Mondays the Museum remains closed.
- The Hunterian Art Gallery and Mackintosh House is open from Tuesday to Saturday from 10.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
- On Sundays the Hunterian Art Gallery and Mackintosh House is open from 11 a.m. to 4.00 p.m. (last admission 3.15 p.m.) and on Mondays the Hunterian Gallery and Mackintosh House remains closed.
- The Hunterian Zoology Museum is open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.
- On Sundays, Saturdays and Public Holidays the Hunterian Zoology Museum remains closed.
- The Country Surgeon Micro Museum is open from Monday to Friday from 9.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. This museum is closed on Saturdays and Sundays.
- The Kelvin Hall is open from Monday to Friday from 6.30 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. On Saturdays the Hall is open from 8.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m. while on Sundays the Kelvin Hall is open from 8.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m.
Location & Contacts
The Hunterian is a part of the Glasgow University Gilmorehill campus that’s located 3 km west of Glasgow city centre. The nearest subway station is the Hillhead station that’s just a few minutes’ worth of walking from the campus. If you are based in Glasgow city centre then simply take either 4 or 4A bus service from the city centre to University Avenue.
There is pay and display parking on University Avenue and surrounding streets on weekdays and free parking in the campus on weekends.
There are two entrances to the Hunterian Museum. One entrance is via a lift that’s located right opposite the University of Glasgow shop in the main University building on University Avenue. The Lift can also directly take you to the Museum Level 4… this way is especially suitable for visitors with special access needs. In fact the museum design is such that all its areas can be accessed by lift. Museum toilets are located on level 2.
Another entrance is through stairs from the ground floor passing through cloisters and up a set of stairs after which you will find the museum entrance on your right as you reach the top. This entrance might be a little busy due to the traffic flows due to lectures and other events.
The Hunterian in the South is the Rutherford Mc Cowan Building in the University of Glasgow Dumfries Campus that’s approximately 2 hours South of Glasgow. You can make the trip to Dumfries campus if the Hunterian collection specially intrigues you.
There are many cafes and restaurants inside the Glasgow University Campus so there are lots of choices for visitors. On the other hand if you are looking for food options outside the campus then there is Bank Street Hillhead which has ‘Bank Street Bar and Kitchen’ and Gibson Street with its Euro Scottish Restaurant called the ‘Left Bank’. Ashton Lane has a nice place for steaks called ‘The Brasserie at the Ubiquitous Chip’ and a Curry place called ‘Wee Curry Shop’.
Once you done admiring the Hunterian Collection, stroll around the rest of the Glasgow University Campus too… it’s a beautiful and historical place. And if you have spare time left over then take a walk through the nearby Kelvingrove Park. The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum should ideally be visited on a separate dedicated day.
The Hunterian, University of Glasgow, Glasgow G12 8QQ
Hunterian Museum: 0141 330 4221; Hunterian Art Gallery: 0141 330 4221
Hunterian Zoology Museum: 0141 330 4772; Kelvin Hall: 0141 276 1450
Anatomy Museum: 0141 330 4296; Mackintosh House: 0141 3304221
Hunterian Collections Website; Mackintosh House Website
Email: [email protected]
A travel addict. Still celebrating the day when he quit his high-profile corporate job to pursue his passion for travel writing.