THE FIRST FLOOR

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Overview

This level contains the famous organ, the Study Centre and gives access to all the galleries at this level. An extensive collection of paintings and sculptures is also displayed.

To Reach

You can reach the First Floor via any of the six sets of stairs from the Ground Floor, or via one of the lifts from the Lower Ground or Ground floors.

Layout

The First Floor is established around the three atria above the Ground Floor Level. This leaves a balcony running around the building with walkways between the central atrium and that above each court, which we'll call the East and West Walkways.

We understand that the balcony around the sides of the building is known as the Picture Promenade, except the First Floor level above the north side of the Main Hall which includes the organ and Study Centre.

A series of pillars runs around the inside of this balcony, providing numerous recesses for sculptures and other displays.

South Section, Going West

This section consists of the walkways past galleries in the east and west halves of the building plus a significant display area between the tops of the Southeast and Southwest stairs.

Beside the East Galleries

South Side
  gents toilets
painting, The Frugal Meal
east entrance to Scottish Identity in Art
various paintings
west entrance to Scottish Identity in Art
blank wall
North Side
  East Stairs to East Court
statue, Sir George Reid, opposite the east entrance to Scottish Identity in Art
statue, Alexander Thomson, opposite west entrance to Scottish Identity in Art
statue, Robert Burns

The Central Display

Around the Top of the Southeast Stairs

We list the items going clockwise from the top of the steps.

North Side
  top of Southeast Stairs
East Side
  glass case, objects from the Exhibition
South Side
  rear of stairwell
West Side
  information in glass case, about exhibits
recess with print of Glasgow Exhibition 1888
pillar
pillar
recess overlooking stairs with seat
pillar
bust of Griselda in recess
Around the Walls

We follow the wall of the building behind both sets of stairs and around a recess in the middle of the south side of the building.

East Side
  wall with windows and radiator
South Wall
  spiral staircase up, not for public use
blank door
pillar
blank wall
blank door
tapestries about exhibition
recess to south, east side:
Victorian water fountain
wall with blank door
continuing south side
glass case, trade links with South Asia
wall with windows
tapestry, about Kelvingrove
jutting out, story of Kelvingrove
Rennie Mackintosh fireplace
west wall of recess:
blank door
back on south wall
sculpture, Four Score and Four
bust, Lord MacFarlane of Bearsden
recess to blank door and spiral staircase, not for public use
West Wall
wall with radiator
poster
The Central Display, Going Anti-Clockwise from the Southwest Corner
South Side
south side of a centre piece which we trace anti-clockwise from the southwest corner South Side
  glass case, Sir Thomas Lipton's silver galleon
pillar
gap to main walkway
model of working steam engine.
East Side
  painting, potter at work
North Side
  sculpture, Modesty
gap
poster, Palace of Art 1901
glass case, Sir Thomas Lipton’s silver galleon
West Side
  glass case, Sir Thomas Lipton’s silver galleon
Around the Top of the Southwest Stairs
North Side
  top of Southwest Stairs
East Side
  stairwell, opposite the galleon
South Side
  rear of stairwell
West Side
  poster and items from the exhibition
The Exhibition Dress
North Side of Balcony
  gap to walkway leading north, past the East Lift
painting, Glasgow and the World, showing the dress of that time
pillar, sculpture, Victor Hugo 1883
gap, horizontal poster, Pride in Glasgow's Past
pillar
pillar, donations box
gap overlooking main hall, horizontal poster of Kelvingrove before the War
recess, bronze sculpture
pillar with glass case, silk screen of naked man
gap, overlooking main hall, horizontal poster of two men who made Kelvingrove
wall
poster, Glasgow and the World
pillar
gap, walkway leading north, past the west lift

Beside the West Galleries

South Side
  east entrance to Scotland's First People
pictures of animals
paintings of urban areas
west entrance to Scotland’s First People
sculpture, the Little Mantilla
painting, highland landscape
North Side
  sculpture of Mercury, opposite the west entrance to Scotland's first People
West Stairs

West Section

West Side

  painting, Christ of St John of the Cross, by Salvador Dali
paintings of various armed services people
glass case with armour
entrance to Conflict and Consequence
glass case, armour of a Kiribati warrior
painting of Drumclog 1836
self portrait by Stephen Conroy

East Side

  wood carving, Submission by Albert Termote
sculpture of Sir Winston Churchill, bronze, opposite the entrance to Conflict and Consequence

North Section, Going East

North Side

  painting of Robert Lyons Scott 1937, by Thomas Dugdale
fire door, opposite top of West Stairs
west entrance to Cultural Survival
various portraits
sculpture, The Call, stone
portraits
east entrance to Cultural Survival
top of Northwest Stairs
west entrance to Study Centre

The walkway is blocked at this point by the organ, though you could go through the Study Centre and return to the walkway via the east entrance, from where we return.

  east entrance to Study Centre
top of Northeast Stairs
recess with sculptures
gallrey wall starts
west entrance to Dutch Art
large Dutch paintings, various
east entrance to Dutch Art
portrait of Salome with the head of St. John the Baptist
ladies toilets

South Side

  top of West Stairs
sculpture, Fallen Angel, bronze, opposite the west entrance to Cultural Survival
sculpture, wood, The Fisher Boy by William Lamb, opposite the east entrance to Cultural Survival

The walkway is blocked at this point by the organ, though you could go through the Study Centre and return to the walkway via the east entrance.

  figure of William The Silent, opposite west entrance to Dutch Art
gaps between pillars overlooking East Court
East Stairs to East Court

The East Section, Going South

East Side

  painting, Marat and the Fishes
paintings, various
statue, Madam Renoir
entrance to French Art
statue, The Gaul
large paintings, including The last of the Crew, polar exploration

West Side

  pillars and gaps overlooking the East Court
statue, Alec Reid, opposite entrance to French Art
pillars and gaps overlooking the East Court

The Walkway Past the East Lift, Going North

West Side

  gap, horizontal poster, Keeping the Stonework Clean
pillar
sculpture, Paul and Virginia
pillar
gap, west towards the organ

East Side of Walkway, Going North

  gap towards galleries
blank door
gap overlooking East Court, horizontal poster, Scotland's Heroic Past
pillar, cupboard on south side
east lift, button on right
pillars
gap towards galleries
top of steps at north end

In the middle of the walkway is a metal sculpture, Table Piece.

We're now at the top of the Northeast Stairs, going down north. To the east of these is the wall at the end of the galleries, whilst to the west, is a passage leading towards the organ and Study Centre.

The area East of the Stairs

West Side, Going North
  gap
sculpture of the Sunflower
glass case, Millie, the Sculptor's Wife
gap
glass case, self portrait of Benno Schotz
gap
sculpture, Syrinx
East Wall
  blank wall

The Area West of the Stairs

East Side , Going North
  gap overlooking stairs
stairwell with seat
pillar
metal gates at entrance to Study Centre
West Side
  blank wall
blank door, to organ
North Side, Going East
  steps up to Study Centre
wheelchair lift, button to right
blank recess

The Walkway Past the West Lift, Going South from the Study Centre

East Side

  blank door to organ
glass case, statue of Susannah Surprised
gates of Study Centre
statue, Mademoiselle Gilardi
gap, horizontal poster, Let There be Light
pillar
gap, statue, Robert Louis Stevenson
gap overlooking Main Hall
pillar, glass case, Satyr and a Nymph
gap
gap
glass case, Thomas Carlisle, two statuettes
gap, statue of F D Roosevelt
pillar
gap, horizontal poster, Kelvingrove Ventilation System
pillar
gap, statue, the Threshold
pillar
gap leading along south walkway

West Side

  blank wall
glass case, armour
gates of Study Centre
gap with seat, overlooking stair
picture, the Alma, above the stairs
pillar
gap across top of stairs towards galleries
west lift, button on left
gap, overlooking West Court, horizontal poster, information about the Spitfire
pillar, blank door on east side
gap towards galleries

In the middle of the walkway is a statue of a seated man and child, Motherless.

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