Gladstone’s Land Edinburgh

Paint and pigment analysis were conducted on a remarkable early 17th-century painted interior on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh.

  • Traces of historic decoration

    Traces of historic decoration

  • External view from The Royal Mile and paint detailing

    External view from The Royal Mile and paint detailing

  • Area of visible historic decorative scheme

    Area of visible historic decorative scheme

Gladstone's Land on the Royal Mile is derived from Thomas Gledstanes who purchased, extended and altered the property between 1617 and 1620. At this time narrow plots of land were divided into "Tenements". The remarkable painted decoration that survives throughout the building was executed in 1620, in particular in the flat occupied by Gledstanes, in which a painting of a gled (kite or hawk) is one of the features of the ceiling. 

We were commissioned by The National Trust for Scotland to identify the pigments used in the palette of the 17th-century colourman which was achieved through paint analysis. Further investigation of traces of paint from the window revealed a variety of pigments all consistent with the 17th century.