THE National Gallery of Ireland first opened its doors to the public on this day 150 years ago. It was inspired by the Great Exhibition in London in 1851. William Dargan (1799-1867) visited the London exhibition and believed a similar celebration would be beneficial in Ireland and stimulate and interest in the arts. He funded the industrial exhibition in Dublin in 1853 on the site of Leinster Lawn, adjacent to where the gallery is located. Less than a year later an act to provide for the establishment of a national gallery of paintings, sculpture and fine arts was passed. This led to the opening on January 30, 1864 of a state of the art museum building. A programme of special events will mark this anniversary year.
Silvestro dei Gherarducci (1339-1399) The Assumption of the Magdalen, 1380s
Photo © National Gallery of Ireland
FROM THE EXHIBITION
Care of the Collection
18 January – 30 May 2014