National Gallery of Ireland: Difference between revisions

{{Use dmy dates|date=OctoberJuly 20132024}}

The '''National Gallery of Ireland''' ({{lang-ga|Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann}}) houses the national collection of Irish and European art. It is located in the centre of [[Dublin]] with one entrance on [[Merrion Square]], beside [[Leinster House]], and another on [[Clare Street, Dublin|Clare Street]]. It was founded in 1854 and opened its doors ten years later.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgallery.ie/history|title=History|website=National Gallery of Ireland|language=en|access-date=2018-08-21}}</ref> The gallery has an extensive, representative collection of Irish paintings and is also notable for its [[Baroque painting#Italian|Italian Baroque]] and [[Dutch Golden Age painting|Dutch masters]] painting. The current director is [[Caroline Campbell (museum director)|Caroline Campbell]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=National Gallery of Ireland appoints first female director |url=https://www.irishtimes.com/ireland/2022/08/04/national-gallery-appoints-first-female-director/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=The Irish Times |language=en}}</ref>

In 1853 an [[Exhibition game|exhibition]], the [[Great Industrial Exhibition (1853)|Great Industrial Exhibition]], was held on the lawns of [[Leinster House]] in Dublin. Among the most popular exhibits was a substantial display of works of art organised and underwritten by the railway magnate [[William Dargan]]. The enthusiasm of the visiting crowds demonstrated a public for art, and it was decided to establish a permanent public art collection as a lasting monument of gratitude to Dargan. The moving spirit behind the proposal was the [[barrister]] [[John Edward Pigot]] (1822–1871), son of [[David Richard Pigot]], [[Chief Baron of the Irish Exchequer]], and he became one of the first governors of the gallery.<ref>National Gallery of Ireland Act 1854 section 7.</ref> The façade of the National Gallery copies the Natural History building of the [[National Museum of Ireland]] which was already planned for the facing flank of Leinster House. The building itself was designed by [[Francis Fowke]], based on early plans by [[Charles Lanyon]], and was completed and opened in 1864.<ref name=":1">{{Cite book|title=1854-20041854–2004 : the story of the National Gallery Of Ireland|last=Peter.|first=Somerville-Large|date=2004|publisher=National Gallery Ofof Ireland|isbn=1904288081|location=[Dublin]|oclc=57429422}}</ref><ref name=":0" />

The gallery was not founded around an existing collection, and when the gallery opened it had just 112 paintings.<ref name=":0" /> In 1866 an annual purchase grant was established and by 1891 space was already limited.<ref name=":1" /> In 1897, the Dowager Countess of Milltown indicated her intention of donating the contents of [[Russborough House]] to the gallery. This gift included about 223 paintings, 48 pieces of sculpture, 33 engravings, much silver, furniture and a library, and prompted construction from 1899 to 1903 of what is now called the Milltown Wing, designed by [[Thomas Newenham Deane]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/reading-the-pictures-1.126214|title=Reading the pictures|work=The Irish Times|access-date=2018-08-21|language=en-US}}</ref>

A new wing, called the Millennium Wing, was opened in 2002. Unlike the previous two extensions, this new wing has street frontage and the English architects [[Benson & Forsyth]] gave it an imposing Bowers Whitbed, [[Portland Stonestone]] [[façade]] and grand [[atrium (architecture)|atrium]]. The design originally involved demolishing an adjoining [[Georgian Architecture|Georgian]] terrace house and its ballroom mews; however, the Irish planning appeals authority, An Bord Pleanála, required that they be retained.

File:Rembrandt - Portrait of a Woman with Gloves - NGI.808.jpg|Rembrandt, ''Portrait of a Woman with Gloves'', c 1632-16421632–1642

File:Hals, Frans - Fisher Boy - 1630-32.jpg|[[Frans Hals]], ''Fisher Boy'', c 1630-321630–32

Originally the Hennessy Portrait Prize, the Zurich Portrait Prize is an exhibition of commissioned artists creating works of portraiture. The Prize is open to artists in all mediums who are either citizens in Ireland or Irish citizens living abroad. The prize consists of €15,000 and a €5,000 commission to create a portrait that would be exhibited in the gallery.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.nationalgallery.ie/art-and-artists/zurich-portrait-prize-0|title=The Zurich Portrait Prize|website=National Gallery of Ireland|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190412173406/https://www.nationalgallery.ie/art-and-artists/zurich-portrait-prize-0|archive-date=12 April 2019|url-status=dead}}</ref> Previous winners include:

* 2018 [[Mandy O'Neill]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/art-and-design/visual-art/shortlist-for-national-portrait-prize-to-go-on-show-at-national-gallery-of-ireland-1.3647761|title=Shortlist for national portrait prize to go on show at National Gallery of Ireland|last=Dunne|first=Aidan|website=The Irish Times|language=en|access-date=2019-04-12}}</ref>