GLASGOW.- One of Scotland’s favourite paintings, Christ of St John of the Cross by Salvador Dalí, has returned to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow. The seminal artwork is now back on show, hanging in its bespoke gallery on the first floor of the museum. The painting had been on loan to the Royal Academy of Arts in London for their exhibition Dalí/Duchamp, before it travelled to The Dalí Museum in St Petersburg, Florida as part of the exhibition tour.

Chair of Glasgow Life, Councillor David McDonald, said: “After a hugely successful visit to the Royal Academy and the Dali Museum it’s wonderful to welcome Christ of St John of the Cross back to Kelvingrove, in time for the upcoming holiday period. The must-see painting is one of the best-loved works in Glasgow Museums’ entire collection, for both tourists and Glaswegians alike. It’s certain to captivate the thousands of people who will visit the museum during the summer months.”

Painted in 1951 and purchased by the City of Glasgow in 1952, Christ of St John of the Cross continues to be one of the real draws for the million-plus people who visit Kelvingrove Museum each year. Before its recent travels, the painting hadn’t been on loan since 2010, when it was exhibited at the High Museum of Art in Atlanta, USA.

Glasgow Museums is also launching a packed programme of free, fun, family events across all eight museums this summer. After admiring Dalí’s powerful artwork families can enjoy a full programme of workshops, activities and craft sessions at Kelvingrove and across the city’s other museums throughout the holiday period.

For more details on the Summer Family Events programme operating from July to September visit glasgowmuseums.com. Many of the events are free and include highlights like the Mackintosh Bus Tour travelling between various museums on 21 July 2018, Kelvin Hall’s Dennis and Gnasher-inspired antics throughout the school holidays and GoMA’s Magical Summer programme, incorporating potion making, herbology, levitation and summoning in addition to the weekly Saturday Art Club. The People’s Palace will take inspiration from John Knox’s Glasgow Fair painting on display in the museum and host traditional fair-themed workshops such as Be a Clown and Circus Fun, while Riverside Beach is back from the beginning of July.