The Orchar Collection of Scottish Victorian Art at Broughty Castle Museum

Dundee, Scotland - One of the most important collections of Scottish Victorian Art in the country is now on display at Broughty Castle Museum in Broughty Ferry near Dundee.  The Orchar Collection was built up by James Guthrie Orchar (1825-1898), a prominent businessman, great patron of the arts and a former Lord Provost of Broughty Ferry. Broughty Castle is owned by Historic Scotland and run as a museum by Dundee City Council, Leisure and Communities Department.

This exhibition returns some thirty of Orchar's paintings to permanent display in a newly refurbished gallery within Broughty Castle.  It features work from Orchar's original collection by artists of the Scott Lauder Group, famed for their gestural brushwork and love of colour, alongside twentieth century paintings by Philip de Laszlo and James McIntosh Patrick purchased by Orchar's Trustees.

In a new departure, the display has been curated by two of Dundee City Council Leisure & Communities  Department's front-of-house team.  Gillian Bennett and Mark Wade put the display together as part of their Scottish Vocational Qualification in Curatorial Operations.  Both chose to concentrate on works that have been little seen in recent years, but that reveal something of their collector's personality.  Their studies highlighted two works that had been misattributed to Orchar's son - James Steel Orchar - for over 80 years.  Their research has identified the true artist of 'The Harbour at Dort' and 'At Muthill' as Orchar himself.  Leisure, Arts and Communities Convener Richard McCready comments "Gillian and Mark are to be congratulated on their detailed research and the dedication with which they have approached this project." 

The Orchar Collection was displayed in the Orchar Gallery, Broughty Ferry from 1923 - 1979.  The entire Orchar Collection was gifted to the City of Dundee in 1987 and in 1989 much of it was put on permanent display within the refurbished Victoria Gallery in the McManus Galleries and Museum. An inventor, engineer and entrepreneur, James Guthrie Orchar was a hugely successful businessman exporting locally designed and manufactured textile machinery throughout the world. 

Admission is free and the exhibition runs until November 2010.  Opening times: April - September  Monday to Saturday 10am-4pm, Sunday 12.30-4pm; October - March  Tuesday to Saturday 10am-4pm,

Sunday 12.30-4pm, closed Monday.

For further information contact Anna Robertson, Senior Curator, Leisure & Communities Department, Dundee City Council, tel (01382) 432360, Email : anna.robertson@dundeecity.gov.uk