I HAVE A SOFT SPOT for the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.  Although it’s an impressive, red sandstone building, its site on Queen Street means visitors to the city often overlook it in favour of the more obvious National Galleries Complex on the Mound.  It’s well worth making the effort to get to the Portrait Gallery this summer, though, before it closes for a two-year-long refurbishment.

You’ll enter the grand, triple-height hall with a striking frieze of noted Scots above your head.  And if that weren’t appealing enough, for this summer only, there are also the delights of the Vanity Fair Portraits.  Arranged into the two ages of Vanity Fair (the first being from 1913 to 1936, and the second from 1983 to the present day), the exhibition isn’t short of stars.

The first age includes classic monochrome shots of people like Thomas Hardy, Albert Einstein and Frida Kahlo – artists, scientists and geniuses.  The portraits span icons from a wide range of disciplines.  It’s an opportunity to better understand them, get a glimpse into a different world and see what they looked like. 

The second age, in contrast, is crammed full of celebrities.  Demi Moore, Madonna, and a young, Matt Damon are taken by celebrity photographers such as Annie Lebovitz and Mario Testino.  We already recognise their faces, having been bombarded by images of them by the media.  Yet the exhibition shows them in new and different ways, capturing the piece of their soul that their publicist would like you to see.

So go to see the Vanity Fair Portraits.  Marvel at the athleticism of Jesse Owens, Hillary Swank and Lance Armstrong.  Remember the political power of Reagan and Thatcher.  Be amazed by the glamour of Julia Roberts, Louis Armstrong and Diana, Princess of Wales.  And be thankful that you’re able to slip out of the building with no paparazzi on your tail…

Vanity Fair Portraits is on now at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery on Queen Street until 21st September 2008.  Tickets are £6 (£4).