The emergence of Scottish art as a movement in its own right is inextricably linked to monarchy.

With this in mind, it should perhaps come as no surprise that the Queen has one of the finest collections of Scottish art in the world. And this week the cream will go on show in what is likely to be the blockbuster exhibition of the summer, at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh.

Called From Caledonia to the Continent, the exhibition focuses on the period from 1750 to 1900, and includes significant works by the two Scots stars of the time: Allan Ramsay and Sir David Wilkie. Both were not only royal favourites, but artists of European significance.

Undoubtedly the most well-known painting in the exhibition is Ramsay’s ubiquitous portrait of George III. Commissioned in 1760, the picture is perhaps the definitive image of the King, resplendent in coronation robes and gold breeches, and indeed monarchy itself. The work is still the most copied royal portrait of all time.

It will be seen alongside arguably the Edinburgh-born artist’s greatest work, his portrait of Queen Charlotte and her two young sons, made when Ramsay was in his prime as personal artist to the King and his court. Though regal, the image is also intimate and domestic, and shows off Ramsay’s supreme talent as a draughtsman.

The next Scot to make his mark with a monarch was Fife-born Wilkie, whose vivid scenes of the peasantry and everyday life, influenced by the Dutch school, captivated court and commoners alike.

Among Wilkie’s biggest fans was the Prince Regent, later George IV, who commissioned him to paint two of the works on show here, The Penny Wedding, from 1818, which depicts the joyful wedding festivities of simple country folk, and The Entrance of George IV to Holyroodhouse, painted between 1822 and 1930. The latter depicts the first visit of a reigning British monarch in 200 years, which was famously orchestrated and propagandised by Sir Walter Scott.

Though these two big names will bring in the crowds, those hoping to make new discoveries will not be disappointed.

Among them is likely to be Aberdonian John Phillip, Queen Victoria’s favourite artist, who travelled widely in Spain. The work of her beloved husband Albert’s favourite, William Dyce, who was also from Aberdeen, and Glaswegian William Leighton Leitch, the Queen’s drawing master from 1846, will also be new to many.

Perhaps not surprisingly, the landscape work included from this period includes scenes of Balmoral, which Prince Albert had acquired in 1852.

Deborah Clarke, senior curator at the Palace of Holyroodhouse, hopes the 80 works on show will both delight and surprise visitors.

“This exhibition has a wonderful story to tell about both the development of Scottish art and the taste of the monarchs of the period,” she told The Herald Magazine.

“By 1750 Ramsay, a key figure in the Enlightenment in Edinburgh and great friend of David Hume, is really starting to put Scottish art on the map, and that’s where we start from.

“But I hope there will be something for everyone interested in Scottish art, from wonderful portraits and grand royal scenes to the most fabulous depictions of Spain, Italy and Egypt.”

Scottish Artists 1750-1900: From Caledonia to the Continent, runs at the Queen’s Gallery, Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh, from Thursday until February 7, 2016.

Scroll down for a selection of highlights.

The Herald:

State portrait of George III

Allan Ramsay

Commissioned in 1760, the work depicts the recent coronation and highlights the pomp of monarchy. Ramsay was subsequently appointed court painter, and spent much of his time producing copies of the portrait to send as gifts to ambassadors and governors. Still well known today, it is the most copied royal portrait of all time.

The Herald:

Queen Charlotte and her Two Eldest Sons

Allan Ramsay

Ramsay, a key figure in the Enlightenment and friend of David Hume and Jean-Jacques Rousseau, was said to be close to the Queen Consort. This portrait, painted in 1764, depicts domestic contentment amid the grandeur. At Charlotte’s feet is the future Prince Regent, later George IV, who became a patron of Sir David Wilkie half a century later.

The Herald:

The Entrance of George IV to Holyroodhouse

Sir David Wilkie

Famously masterminded by staunch monarchist Sir Walter Scott, George IV’s visit to Scotland in 1822 was the first by a reigning British monarch in 200 years. The King is depicted being handed the keys to his Scottish residence as enthusiastic crowds cheer him on.

The Herald:

View of Lochnagar

James Giles

Queen Victoria is said to have had a deep love of Scotland, as did Prince Albert, who purchased Balmoral estate for the royal family in 1852. The pair were active patrons of Scottish art. This view of nearby Lochnagar, painted in 1848 by Aberdonian landscape painter James Giles, was given to the Queen by her husband.

The Herald:

Madonna and Child

William Dyce

The Aberdeen-born painter was said to be the favourite artist of Prince Albert, who purchased this 1845 depiction of the Madonna and Child. As can be seen in the work, Dyce was heavily influenced by early Italian art. The prince later commissioned a companion picture of St Joseph.

The Herald:

El Paseo

John Phillip

Painted in 1854 as interest in Spanish culture grew, this work by the Queen’s favourite Scottish artist was given as a gift to her husband. The women depicted in the picture would have looked extremely exotic to British eyes at the time. On his death in 1867, Victoria described Phillip as “our greatest painter”.

The Herald:

The Penny Wedding

Sir David Wilkie

Wilkie, born in Cults, Fife, is perhaps best known for his small-scale scenes of the “salt of the earth”, such as this one, dated 1818, painted for the Prince Regent. The scene depicts a peasant wedding where the common custom was for every guest to pay a penny towards the festivities, with anything left going to help the couple set up home.