Record-breaking Glasgow Boys put one over on Vincent Van Gogh

An EXHIBITION of work by the group of artists known as the Glasgow Boys has broken visitor records at one of Scotland's busiest galleries.
By The Newsroom
Published 17th Sep 2010, 18:57 BST
Updated 18th Sep 2010, 00:28 BST

More than 105,000 people have paid to see the exhibition at the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum - making it the best-selling visual arts exhibition of all time to be staged at the Glasgow venue.

The exhibition, which opened in April, is the first devoted to the group since 1968.

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The Glasgow Boys were 23 artists, who worked in the city in the 1880s.

Despite having very different styles, they shared the same ideals of art, choosing natural subjects and locations over the more established studio work. Their first major art show in 1885 caused a sensation at the time.

The selection of more than 140 paintings on display at Kelvingrove is one of the largest ever seen.

The 105,000 visitors to the museum are 2,000 more than the previous record set in 1948 when works by Vincent Van Gogh were showcased.

When the exhibition eventually closes on 27 September, about 90 of the paintings will be transferred to London for another exhibition at the Royal Academy.

It is understood that the museum has taken more than 300,000 at its ticket office, while sales at its dedicated Glasgow Boys shop are also said to be "very healthy".

Related topics:ScotlandGlasgowLondon