The McManus Galleries in Dundee reopened yesterday after an arduous multimillion-pound redevelopment.
The museum, which has been formally renamed The McManus: Dundee’s Art Gallery and Museum, closed three years ago for extensive refurbishment to exploit the gallery’s internal space and improve its layout.
Dundee City Council had initially estimated the work would cost around £8.5million but the cost of under-pinning the building saw the estimate skyrocket.
The project, which eventually cost £12million, was funded by the council, the Heritage Lottery Fund, the European Union and Historic Scotland with additional contributions from The McManus Fundraising Appeal.
All non-original interior features have been stripped away to create airy, open public spaces revealing the beauty of the original architecture.
The galleries have been significantly altered with front entry relocated to the south side of the building where there is a cafe, shop and reception area.
The external grand sweeping staircase has been refurbished and a new winding staircase has been added inside.
A new top-lit atrium features newly installed artwork by David Batchelor.
Among the exhibits to reappear are the skeleton of a Tay whale and a 1,500-year-old canoe.
Consider the Lilies, an exhibition of around 50 Scottish masterpieces from 1910-1980, is also on display to mark the official reopening of the gallery.
Councillor Bob Duncan, convener for leisure, arts and communities, said: “I am thrilled The McManus is back in use.
“It has been a long time but there was a huge amount of work to do. The underpinning of the building took a significant amount of time, effort and money.
“What the public are going to see when they come to visit will simply amaze them – it is absolutely fantastic.
“The building and the exhibits have been painstakingly restored to wonderful condition.
“There is also so much more space which gives us the opportunity to temporarily house travelling exhibitions such as Titian’s Diana and Actaeon, which will be here later this year.
“I strongly believe it will become an iconic place.”
The original design for The McManus – originally known as the Albert Institute – was drawn up by Sir George Gilbert Scott, who worked on the building between 1864-67.