Fergusson Gallery

The Fergusson Gallery is located in Marshall Place, Perth, (See Map) opposite the South Inch and devoted to the artistic work of the Scottish colourist painter John Duncan Fergusson (1874-1961). The gallery is home to the largest collection of his works in the world, including drawings, paintings and sculpture, which are displayed through a programme of changing exhibitions.

Fergusson Gallery opened in 1992, occupies an A-listed neo-classical former waterworks designed in 1832 in the style of a Roman Doric Temple by Adam Anderson (1780 - 1846), the Rector of Perth Academy. In order to supply the town, fresh water was pumped by steam engine from filter beds on Moncrieffe Island, in the river Tay, into the large domed cast-iron cistern which comprises the waterworks. This is thought to represent the earliest cast-iron building in the world, assembled from 192 panels which were cast by the Dundee Foundry Company, held together by bolts and mounted on a substantial masonry base. It had a capacity of 552,670 litres (146,000 gallons). Anderson inscribed the words Aquam Igne et Aqua Haurio- by fire and water I draw water - above the entrance.