At 11.00am on Wednesday 25 February, Provost Colin O'Brien will host a celebration at the Stirling Smith Art Gallery and Museum to mark the end of a successful fundraising campaign to secure this painting.

Provost O'Brien launched the campaign in August 2003, and by Christmas the money was raised.
He said, "I am delighted by the response of people not only in Stirling but world-wide. The success of the campaign shows how much people appreciate the importance of Wallace to Stirling and Stirling to Wallace. I have invited all of the 208 contributors so that I can thank them personally."

Councillor Gerry Power, Chairman of the Smith Trustees said, "It is amazing that so many fundraising initiatives were pursued. Adam MacNaughtan, who wrote a poem for the campaign will be here to perform it in person. Our guests will also include the children of Armadale Primary School's Class 7A, who between them raised £304, and delivered a complete fundraising report with their contribution."

Of the £20,000 raised, £7154 came from the Friends of the Smith, £5000 from the National Art Collections Fund, and the remainder from businesses and the private donations of 208 individuals.
The portrait is of greater historical interest than previously supposed. It was painted for the house of Sir John Wauchope of Niddrie Marshall, near Portobello, and removed before the house was burned and demolished in 1957. The portrait was part of a scheme of interior decoration, created in 1661 to mark the Restoration of King Charles II in which Sir John had played a significant part.

When Niddrie Marshall was re-modelled in the 1720s, the portrait was enlarged, by giving it a martial trophy of weapons and flags, and setting it in pride of place above the fireplace in the dining room of the house. It was engraved with the family's permission, and widely used for book illustrations in the nineteenth century.

"It is one of a handful of historical representations of William Wallace," said Provost O'Brien. "Most have remained in private hands, but we are delighted to have secured this one for Stirling's Smith Art Gallery and Museum."

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