Cornwall Library Art Exhibition

Cornwall Library Art Exhibition
Edinburgh: Athens of the North”

by David Nicholls

David Nicholls’s work will be on display in the Community Room at the Cornwall Public Library until April 30th, 2024.


David Nicholls was born and raised in London, England, and has been taking photographs since his teenage years. In 2023, he displayed his work, A Paris Portrait, at the library and now returns with a new subject city, Edinburgh.

Edinburgh has been the capital of Scotland since 1437 and is the second most-visited city (after London) in the United Kingdom. It became known as “The Athens of the North” during the eighteenth century when there was a flowering of intellectual activity led by such luminaries as the philosopher David Hume and the economist Adam Smith. In addition, wealthy gentlemen returning from the European “Grand Tour” noted topological similarities between Edinburgh and Athens: they were both dominated by a hill, and both cities were situated on a plain that ended in a port. At the same time, there was a revival of classical architecture, examples of which can be seen throughout the city.

These photographs attempt a portrait of the city, as seen through its classical architecture as well as the historic center, known as Old Town.