Dieter Appelt, Forth Bridge – Cinema.Metric Space, 2004. © the artist

The National Galleries of Scotland has bought a new image of the Forth Bridge, the latest major creation from internationally renowned German artist Dieter Appelt.

Forth Bridge – Cinema.Metric Space consists of 312 separate gelatine silver prints making up a photographic reconstruction of the iconic Scottish landmark.

It will form the centrepiece of a forthcoming exhibition at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery focusing on the relationship between photography, engineering and art in Appelt’s work.

Dieter Appelt, Forth Bridge – Cinema.Metric Space, 2004 (detail). © the artist

Appelt, born in Brandenburg in 1935, is one of the most significant German artists of the post-war period and first set eyes on the Forth Bridge in the 1970s, becoming fascinated by its appearance.

He was commissioned in 2002 to make his Forth Bridge – Cinema.Metric Space, and used stills from a 35mm film of the bridge, cutting and rejoining segments to create an overall impression of the structure rather than a direct representation.

The work was purchased for £57,436, including a £25,000 grant from The Art Fund.

The exhibition, Dieter Appelt, Forth Bridge – Cinema.Metric Space runs from October 9 to January 6 2008.