An iconic painting of a Glasgow street scene has arrived in a city gallery.

Alasdair Gray's Cowcaddens Streetscape in the Fifties is one of the legendary artist's greatest works and he regarded it his 'best oil painting'.

The 1964 work was previously owned by Gray's friend Angela Mullen until it was acquired by Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum back in September.

Today, the gallery announced that the masterpiece has arrived in the Looking Art Gallery of the West End institution. 

Glasgow Times:

A spokesperson said: "We're delighted to share that Alasdair Gray's Cowcaddens Streetscape in the Fifties has its new home in Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum.

 

"Gray credited his fledging love of painting to a weekend art class at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, so it's a circular moment that one of his most magnificent works, and what he described as “my best big oil painting”, has found a home here."

Gray, who died in 2019, grew up in Riddrie in the city's East End and attended Glasgow School of Art in the 1950s.

Glasgow Times: Alasdair Gray with the painting, 1950sAlasdair Gray with the painting, 1950s (Image: Newsquest)

He based the painting on sketches of Monkland Canal painting, and it depicts an area of Glasgow which radically changed after the Second World War.

It adopts a sliding viewpoint style with Port Dundas to the north and St Aloysius Church to the south.

Bailie Annette Christie, chairperson of Glasgow Life, said: “This painting is a remarkable addition to our collection of works by the legendary Alasdair Gray.

“It is a powerful image of Glasgow by an artist with strong links to the city and belongs in a public collection where Glaswegians and visitors can enjoy it.

"Acquisitions like this strengthen Glasgow’s world-class museum collections.

"They also help people to get involved in and feel inspired by the culture our city has to offer.”