Reading Time: 9 minutes

A second edition of the popular ‘We Have Great Stuff’ colouring book has been launched centred around the theme of a Treasure Map that explores treasures found around the University of Edinburgh.

Created and curated by English Language and Literature student Marta Bloch Christiansen, the drawings are based on either architectural details found at different University buildings or images of artefacts held in the Centre for Research Collections. Technical support and creative guidance were provided by Stewart Lamb Cromar and the Interactive Content team within Learning, Teaching and Web Services at ISG.

The book is openly licensed and you can download a PDF version of the book, 30 high-resolution illustrations and nine instructional videos by visiting the website:

Colouring Books

Welcome to the World of Edinburgh and Colouring

0. Marta at the Main Library

Photograph (Main Library): Ewan McAndrew
Photograph (Marta): Stewart Lamb Cromar

This edition of the ‘We have great stuff’ colouring book is centred around the theme of a Treasure Map, in that it explores treasures found around the University of Edinburgh. It combines three things I love: first, the enchanting, beautiful city of Edinburgh, second, walking and exploring the beauty surrounding us, and third, creative pursuits, i.e. colouring. All three have been present in making this book; in finding, photographing and creating the drawings you will hopefully enjoy colouring and exploring.

To walk and explore and being creative to me offer mindful breaks in a busy life, where thoughts and worries are put on hold for a minute, creating a space where I just am. Sometimes taking these breaks and doing something with my hands or my body will lead to solutions for, new ideas or realisations about what occupies my mind.

The aim of this book is to encourage taking mindful breaks from the busy life of a student either in the form of colouring or walking and perhaps experience some of the peace these activities give me. We have therefore included maps at the back that show the locations of the inspiration sources, hence the name Treasure Map.

Images 1-12 and 15-18 are of architectural details found around the University of Edinburgh and are meant to encourage you to explore and appreciate the beauty and possibilities of the University and the city surrounding it. Images 13-14 and 19-25 are based on photos of items found at the Centre for Research Collections housed in the University of Edinburgh’s Main Library, and home to books, art, archives, manuscripts and musical instruments.

I hope you enjoy colouring and exploring.

Marta Bloch Christiansen (English Language and Literature Student)

Image Sources (1-6)

1. New College Gate

Architect: Playfair, William Henry

New College was founded as the theological college of the Free Church of Scotland. It opened for classes in Edinburgh’s New Town on 1st November 1843 before moving to the Mound soon after. In 1935, New College was merged with the Faculty (now the School) of Divinity in the University of Edinburgh, following the reunion of the Church of Scotland and United Free Church in 1929.

2. New College Sign

Rev Dr Thomas Chalmers laid the foundation stone for the current building on 3 June 1846, which means it is the 175th anniversary this year (2021) and the School of Divinity is celebrating this fact throughout the year.

3. New College Library Stained Glass Window

4: ECA Staircase Window

5. Bedlam Theatre Ventilation Grid

Bedlam Theatre is a unique, entirely student-run theatre in the centre of Edinburgh, in fact it is the oldest student-run theatre in Britain. The theatre was originally the New North Free Church built in 1848 in the neo-Gothic style near the site of the Edinburgh Bedlam Mental Institute. Home to the Edinburgh University Theatre Company.

6. Old Medical School Iron Gate, detail

Architect: Anderson, Sir Robert Rowand (1824-1921)

Designed by Edinburgh architect Robert Rowand Anderson, the Edinburgh Medical School, built 1876-86, and the McEwan Graduation Hall, its sister building, were major additions to the University campus. The building is in the Northern Italian Renaissance style, and houses the School of History, Classics and Archaeology and the Anatomical Museum. For Anderson the style of architecture was intended to aid and inspire the students, teachers and researchers who worked within its walls.

Image Sources (7-12)

7. The Anatomical Museum

The Anatomical Museum opened in 1884 upon the completion of the Old Medical School building. In the 1950s the original three story museum was reduced to a single upper story, the site of the present museum. The collection consists of 12,000 objects and specimens that tell the story of 300 years of anatomical teaching at the University of Edinburgh. The museum displays a number of unique objects including the skull of George Buchanan (tutor to James VI), a dissected body demonstrating the lymphatic system injected with mercury (dated 1788) and the skeleton of notorious murderer William Burke (1829).

8. Streetlamp: Detail Castle

Detail found on lampposts situated between McEwan Hall and Reid Concert Hall.

9. McEwan Hall: Stone Detail

Architect: Anderson, Sir Robert Rowand (1834-1921)

The McEwan Hall was presented to the University in 1897 after 23 years of construction by brewer William McEwan, not only as a ceremonial hall for graduations but also as a gift to the people of Edinburgh. The lavish interiors were designed by William Palin.

10. The Edinburgh Labyrinth

Bronze cast finger labyrinth identical to The Edinburgh Labyrinth. Both are situated in a corner of George Square Gardens (opposite the Hugh Robson Building), and the real-sized one adds to the peaceful nature of this area, giving a chance to relax or reflect while walking this ancient path.

The labyrinth was drawn by Ron Chisholm (architect at the University) in a Chartres-style path based on the 13th century labyrinth laid in the floor of Chartres Cathedral in France.

Creative Driveway and Landscaping worked on the physical laying of the labyrinth with consultancy help from Jim Buchanan, a Scottish landscape artist.

11. Informatics Forum Staircase

12. Fence Detail

Detail from fence outside Minto House which houses the School of Architecture and Landscape Architecture.

Image Sources (13-15)

13. Guitar (Attributed to Matteo Sellas), detail

Guitar (Attributed to Matteo Sellas), detail:

Creator: Attributed to Matteo Sellas Collection

Name: MIMEd (Musical Instrument Museums Edinburgh), Macaulay Collection Collection/Item Reference: 279,0032257c-0004

Soundboard detail from a guitar with ten strings made in Venice, Italy, around 1640 and attributed to Matteo Sellas. Example from the collection housed in St Cecilia’s Hall Music Museum.

14.a. Violin without sides

Violin without sides:

Alternative Title: Violin (attributed Bassano): three-quarter view showing silkmoth

Creator: Possibly the Bassano family of Venice and London Collection Name: MIMEd (Musical Instrument Museums Edinburgh), Reid Collection Collection/Item Reference: 329, 0032304c-0005

Detail of a silkmoth on a violin from the 16th century, possibly made by the Bassano family of Venice and London. Example from the collection housed in St Cecilia’s Hall Music Museum. 

14.b. Celtic Psalter, 11th C., f.57v

Celtic Psalter, 11th C., f.57v:

Creator: Unknown Collection Name: Western Medieval Manuscripts Collection/Item Reference: MS 56 – f.57v, 0022707c

This medieval manuscript contains the Celtic Psalter from the 11th century and is possibly one of Scotland’s oldest books. The creator is unknown, but it is rumoured King Malcolm III had it made for his wife, Margaret, a pious English Catholic. It is richly illuminated with initials of paragraphs transformed into fantasy animals in a style similar to Iron Age Celtic designs. 

Curiously, the blue in the illuminations does not come from the woad plant as was typical for the region in that age, instead the blue is from lapis lazuli, a semi-precious stone that was much more expensive since it had to be imported. 

 

15. St. Cecilia’s Hall Facade

Architects: Page\Park Architects

Home to one of the most important historic musical instrument collections anywhere in the world. St Cecilia’s Hall is Scotland’s oldest purpose-built concert hall. Originally built by the Edinburgh Musical Society in 1762, the Georgian venue is a real hidden gem, tucked away in the heart of Edinburgh’s Old Town. It has recently undergone renovations which was done by Page\Park Architects and this includes the new façade.

Inspiration behind St. Cecilia’s Hall façade: Title: Double-manual harpsichord (Francis Coston), detail Creator: Coston, Francis Collection Name: MIMEd (Musical Instrument Museums Edinburgh) Collection/Item Reference: 4320, 0035518

Image Sources (16-20)

16. Charteris Land Mural

Creator: David ‘Dusty’ Miller; Photograph: Marta Christiansen; Illustration: Marta Christiansen

The building is home to Moray House’s departments of Educational Studies and part of Curriculum Research & Development.

A sculptured wall (and a fourth panel) were commissioned from David ‘Dusty’ Miller, a member of staff at Moray House. These were incorporated along the front of the building.

Panel 1 symbolises ‘The Maze’, based on the use of the maze by psychologists such as Skinner, Tolman and Hull in experiments on rats to ascertain the power of deduction and memory retention in the learning process.

Panel 2 symbolises ‘Growth and Development’ – how a form of life starts with a coincidence of two elements and whose eventual shape is determined by external influences.

Panel 3 symbolises the ‘Assimilation of Knowledge’, where differing units are selected and sorted in a rational way to form an organic retrieval system.

17. Sound Chamber

An anechoic (free from echo) chamber used for sound analysis at the School of Physics and Astronomy housed in the James Clerk Maxwell Building at King’s Buildings Campus.

18. The Roslin Institute

The Roslin Institute aims to enhance the lives of animals and humans through world class research in animal biology. The Institute moved to this building in 2011.

19. College of Edinburgh, No.39

College of Edinburgh, No.39: Creator: Playfair, William Henry Collection Name: Architectural Drawings Collection/Item Reference: Coll-13/1/7/369, 0078863c

Architectural drawing of Old College, 1821.

The foundational stone of Old College was laid on 16 November 1789. The architect behind was Robert Adam, but due to death and financial problems the work was on pause until 1815 when William Henry Playfair took over the project which was ultimately finished in 1827. The drawing is from this last period.

The quadrangle houses the stunning Playfair Library Hall, Talbot Rice Gallery and the School of Law, and it is considered by Historic Environment Scotland to be one of the most impressive and significant academic buildings in Scotland.

20. Anatomia del cauallo, infermita, et suoi rimedii: opera nvova, degna di qualsivoglia prencipe, & caualiere, & molto necessaria à filosofi, medici, cauallerizzi, & marescalchi

Anatomia del cauallo, infermita, et suoi rimedii: opera nvova, degna di qualsivoglia prencipe, & caualiere, & molto necessaria à filosofi, medici, cauallerizzi, & marescalchi: Creator: Ruini, Carolo Collection Name: CRC Gallimaufry (Miscellaneous Images) Collection/Item Reference: RB.F.45, Part 1, p.189, 0170705c

A work on horse anatomy, sickness and cure by Carolo Riuni from 1618. It was first published in 1598 under the title Dell’anotomia, e dell’infermita del cavallo. Volume 2 has separate title page: Infermità del cauallo et suoi rimedii. It contains sixty-four woodcuts of horse anatomy.

Image Sources (21-25)

21. Moyo Hinagata Nanba no ume, Vol.2, 1886

Moyo Hinagata Nanba no ume, Vol.2, 1886: Creator: Ryushi Muto Collection Name: CRC Gallimaufry (Miscellaneous Images) Collection/Item Reference: RB.P44, 0012596c

Japanese kimono design.

22. The Architecture of A. Palladio, pl.XLII, detail

The Architecture of A. Palladio, pl.XLII, detail: Creator: Leoni, Gaicomo Collection name: ECA Rare Books Collection/Item Reference: RECA.FF.553, 0025136c

English translation by Gaicomo Leoni of I quattro libri dell’architettura, the work of the most influential Italian Architect Andrea Palladio. Palladio began the work in 1555 but the four-volume entirety was not published until 1570.

This edition is a 1742 reprint of the 1715-1720 edition that was originally published by Leoni. The Leoni translation became a huge stepping stone in American and British ‘Palladianism’ where the work could finally be understood in their language. Leoni was the first to publish a complete version of the four book work in English, making his influence of the reader grand. This copy was printed in London by the famous Scottish printer Andrew Millar.

23. The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland, pl.XLIV

The Ferns of Great Britain and Ireland, pl.XLIV: Creators: Moore, Thomas – author, Bradbury, Henry – nature printer and publisher, Lindley, John – editor Collection name: ECA Rare Books Collection/Item Reference: RECA.FF.210, 0055637c

This nature print was created from an actual specimen, brought from Moore to Bradbury, and then printed through the process made known by Alois Auers. Instead of inked specimens being pressed to paper, this process pressed the plant between a steel and lead plate which left an impression on the softer lead plate. From this point, the ink was then added to show the colouring of the specific plant. This process was invented in 1853, just two years before Bradbury adopted it for Moore’s book in 1855.

24. Wandering Willie’s Tale

Wandering Willie’s Tale: Alternate Title: Front cover of an edition of Sir Walter Scott’s Wandering Willie’s Tale Creator: Scott, Sir Walter Collection Name: Walter Scott Image Collection Collection/Item Reference: Corson A.11.RED.2.a.1905, 0030094d

Front cover of a 1905 edition of Sir Walter Scott’s Wandering Willie’s Tale. Wandering Willie’s Tale, here published separately, is told by the fiddler Willie Steenson in Letter 11 of Scott’s novel Redgauntlet.

25. Roslin Glass Slides, No. 2782

Roslin Glass Slides, No. 2782: Creator: Kapoor, B. D. (fl. 1900s) Collection Name: Roslin Institute Collection/Item Reference: GB 237 Coll-1434 (Box 40), 0065737

‘Sunnyside Excursion. Flock of Sheep’. Photograph of a flock of sheep in a paddock taken by B D Kapoor during an excursion to Sunnyside on 29 November 1913.

Credits

Designed by Marta Bloch Christiansen. English Language and Literature student and Student Experience Grant project lead.

Sincere thanks to Tracey McShane for their time and artistic contrubutions.

With a little help from Stewart Lamb Cromar, Jackie Aim and Stuart Brett. Interactive Content Service, Learning, Teaching and Web Services, Information Services Group, The University of Edinburgh.

© OpenStreetMap contributors

The University of Edinburgh is a charitable body, registered in Scotland, with registration number SC005336.

To be inspired further by the collections and to create from them please visit us online: www.ed.ac.uk/is/crc

This publication is available online at: edin.ac/colouring-books

And can be made available in alternative formats on request.Please contact interactive-content@ed.ac.uk or phone +44 (0)131 650 8384.

Acknowledgements

This project was supported by alumni and friends of the University of Edinburgh through the Student Experience Grants scheme.

Student Experience Grants

Additional funds were kindly provided by an IAD Action Fund regular grant and Festival of Creative Learning funding.

Action Fund regular grants

Festival of Creative Learning

Treasure Map of Edinburgh

Explore our interactive version of the: Treasure Map of Edinburgh

Download the high resolution images from out Flickr album: Colouring Book Volume two

Nov 5, 2021

(Copyright © The University of Edinburgh 2021 CC BY )

(© OpenStreetMap contributors)

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