Perth & Kinross Council cares for one of the oldest public collections in the UK. The collection boasts over 1,000 oil paintings including old masters and an impressive body of Scottish art from the founding of the Scottish School to contemporary examples. One of the gems is the largest single holding in existence of work by the Scottish Colourist John Duncan Fergusson. The art collection originated with the founding of the Literary & Antiquarian Society of Perth in 1784. This was followed by several important bequests from the Earl of Ormelie in 1833 and two local Perth businessmen in 1926. The collection continued to grow, thanks to the generosity of local donors and through a dedicated acquisitions programme supported by funding bodies such as The National Fund for Acquisitions, The National Art Collections Fund and the Art Fund. Highlights of the collection include 'Loch Katrine' by Horatio McCulloch, 'Waking' by John Everett Millais and contemporary works such as 'Bike Perch' by Derrick Guild.