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Masterpieces Exhibition

18 December 2009

“Masterpieces 1” – the inaugural display in the Edinburgh University Main Library Exhibition Room – includes 16 carefully chosen iconic pieces from the Centre for Research Collections. LHSA’s 1736 Charter for the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh (LHSA ref: LHB1/5/1b) is exhibited amongst this exclusive group of unique items.

The Charter extended royal patronage to Edinburgh’s Infirmary, Scotland’s first hospital in the modern sense of the word, founded in 1729, and was granted by His Majesty, King George the Second on 25 August 1736. It was obtained through the political persistence of George Drummond (1687-1766). Several times Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Drummond then led the campaign to fund a new Infirmary building designed by William Adam (c.1689-1748).

This is also an opportunity to see the Exhibition Room’s newly-installed bespoke display cases in action, which the LHSA Paper Conservator helped to source and install.

The exhibition opened on 11 December 2009 and will run until 14 March 2010.

First page of the charter of the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh, 1736

Exhibition room, Main Library with the charter on the left