Scottish Art: 1650-2010, Works from the City's Methodist Art Collection

THE LIST

"Desposition" (1947) By Graham Sutherland

SCOTLAND - The King James Bible has given the English language more phrases than Shakespeare (including such not-at-all clichés as 'feet of clay' and 'reap the whirlwind') and it's 400 years old this month. To wish the good book a happy birthday, Edinburgh Uni's New College is showing paintings from the Methodist Art Collection, including pieces by Graham Sutherland (above), Frink, Rouault and Eric Gill, along with Scottish artists John Bellany, John Byrne, Paul Martin, Craigie Aitchison, Robert Powell and Ken Currie.

This selection of works of modern religious art includes work by a number of well-known artists including Scottish greats Craigie Aitchison, John Bellany, Peter Howson, Ken Currie and John Byrne as well as Graham Sutherland and Elisabeth Frink. These paintings will be set alongside a display of a rare first edition of the 1611 King James Version of the Bible in the 400th year of its publication. ‘This is a brilliant opportunity to view some of our most inspired and inspirational artworks,’ says Monique Sliedrecht, one of the curators of the exhibition. ‘The chance to see pieces responding to what has been dubbed “the greatest story ever told” alongside a rare first edition of the King James Version of the Bible, which has done so much to affect the nature of our society, is too good to miss. Everyone who visits the exhibition will learn much and will, I am certain, go away from the exhibition hugely stimulated by what they will see.’

New College, University of Edinburgh, until Sat 11 Jun. [link]