Provost Skene
Sir George Skene, or Provost Skene, was Lord Provost of Aberdeen, Scotland in the 17th century from (1676-1685). Today he is most famous and widely known not for his time as Lord Provost, but for his house which is a major tourist attraction in Aberdeen.
[edit] Provost Skene's house
Dating from 1545, Provost Skene's House was bought in 1669 by Provost Skene. It was opened to the public in 1953 as a 'Period House and Museum of Local History' by Her Majesty, Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother. The rooms have been furnished in the styles of the 17th, 18th and early 19th centuries. There are collections of coins and local history, while the Painted Gallery contains a series of religious paintings. The Costume Gallery presents regularly changing displays of period dress.
The house is much altered, but is a rare survival of Aberdeen's medieval burgh architecture. It is thought that George Skene commissioned the carved plaster ceilings in the 17th century. In an attic gallery a Renaissance painted ceiling, including strapwork decoration and religious scenes, was commissioned by a member of the Lumsden family.[1]
Rated a three star museum by the Scottish Tourist Board, the museum is free to the public.
[edit] References
- ^ Edward Meldrum, Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries Scotland, vol. 91 (1958-9), 85-103, "Sir George Skene's house in the Guestrow". http://ads.ahds.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/PSAS_2002/pdf/vol_092/92_085_103.pdf.
[edit] External links
- Provost Skene's House - official site at Aberdeen Art Gallery & Museums
- Pictures and history of the house.
- History of the house.
- Aberdeen City Council website.
- 24 Hour Museum article.
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Coordinates: 57°08′54″N 2°05′51″W / 57.1483°N 2.0975°W
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