Hi Paris
Scone is the family seat of the Earl of Mansfield. In 1842, when Queen Victoria visited, the Earl just happened to be the President of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, although it didn't have the 'Royal' title at the time.

The painting is of interest. It fact I own it - along with all the other members of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club! It is on loan to Scone Palace. Carsebreck by Charles Martin Hardie was painted in 1899 to celebrate the Royal Club's diamond jubilee and was presented to the RCCC by Sir James Gibson-Craig in 1902 (or thereabouts). It is a companion to the earlier Grand Match painting by Charles Lees for which the Royal Club is currently trying to raise money to restore. Hardie's painting cannot be sold though. In the deed of gift to the Royal Club there was written that if the Club no longer wanted it, it would be offered to the National Portrait Gallery, and if the gallery didn't want it, it would revert back to the family! Incidentally, there is a smaller version of the Hardie already in the National Portrait Gallery collection. You can see it online here:
http://www.nationalgalleries.org/collection/online_az/4:322/result/0/8207?initial=H&artistId=3553&artistName=Charles%20Martin%20Hardie&submit=12706
There is research to be done to find out how the NPG's painting relates to the one at Scone which is owned by the Royal Club.

When I was last at Scone, the painting there was not easily viewed, as access to the room was limited. Were you able to actually stand in front of the painting when you were there at the weekend?

Hope this all helps.
Bob

Guddler
You can actually watch curling at a Grand Match on Carsebreck as recently as 1935. Go to this link:
http://ssa.nls.uk/film.cfm?fid=6030

And this post:
http://curlinghistory.blogspot.com/2010/01/grand-match-of-2010-that-never-was.html
has a still photo of the railway siding beside the pond, from 1929. These were the days. Special steam trains took you to the match!

Bob