The role of Museum nan Eilean’s art collection is to document the rich and varied history of the islands forming the Outer Hebrides, specifically the changing faces of the place and its people. The museum’s modest collection has its origins with the Stornoway Burgh Council in the early years of the last century, which began to collect and commission works that related to the town and its people. When Museum nan Eilean was established in 1983 it inherited this collection and continues to add to it today through donations or purchases whenever possible. Few artists of note have visited the Western Isles and local artistic activity has always been modest. Key works include James Barret’s ‘View of Stornoway’ of 1798; a mid-19th century portrait of Thomas Mackay, piper to Sir James Matheson; and a portrait of Sir James Matheson by the Scottish painter Sir Daniel MacNee.