An evocative, oil painting of the Palace of Holyroodhouse, once used by national railway operator British Railways in a PR campaign to get more people using trains, has been donated to the City of Edinburgh's art collection and will be displayed at the City Art Centre later this Spring.
The painting, by British artist Claude Buckle RI RSMA (1905-73), dates from 1960. During the pre-war years and after the war until 1963, Buckle produced some 85 posters and 25 carriage prints for the railways, making him one of the most prolific and recognised railway poster artists.
The painting of Holyroodhouse has not been hung in public, having been displayed at the one-time headquarters of British Rail Scottish Region at Buchanan House in Glasgow.
The poster, run as part of a campaign to encourage people to "See Britain by train" can be viewed in the Central Library on George IV Bridge. Although you can't actually see Holyrood Palace and the surrounding Holyrood park from a train window, Edinburgh Waverley Station is a 15 minute walk from Holyrood.
Councillor Ron Cairns, Vice Convener of the Culture and Leisure Committee, accepted the donated painting at the City Art Centre on behalf of the City of Edinburgh from BRB (Residuary) Ltd, who are presenting the donation to Edinburgh's collection at the request of the Railway Heritage Committee.
Cllr Cairns said: "This famous painting will no doubt be familiar to countless people in Edinburgh and beyond from its time as a railway poster, so I'm sure it will prove very popular when it goes on display at the City Art Centre. The Council is delighted to accept this generous donation from BRB (Residuary) Ltd, which is a very welcome addition to Edinburgh's nationally recognised art collection."
BRB (Residuary) Ltd has also donated a Claude Buckle painting of Falkland Palace to Fife Council. This painting will go on display to the public at Kirkcaldy Museum & Art Gallery.
Donating the paintings, Peter Ovenstone, Chairman of the Railway Heritage Committee, said: "We are delighted to have been able to use the Railway Heritage Committee powers of designation and disposal to help ensure that these fine paintings find such excellent homes in these two museums.
"We have also been very pleased to hear of the Westminster Government's decision that the powers and protection for railway heritage exercised by the Railway Heritage Committee are to continue in another way by being transferred to the National Museum of Science and Industry."