Those who love indulging their passion for the arts have plenty to look forward to at the National Gallery of Ireland in 2023, following the announcement of its full programme for the year.
With three exhibitions opening at the gallery in January, art lovers will have plenty to see in the early part of the year.
On view until 31 January is Turner: The Henry Vaughan Bequest, a popular free annual display of Turner watercolours, bequeathed by English collector Henry Vaughan in 1900. Turner fans will also be interested in the large temporary exhibition on view in the gallery – Turner: The Sun is God, continuing until 6 February, features 89 artworks on loan from the Tate collection in London.
From 21 January to 8 October Still Life, 2013-2016 (yellow version), James Coleman’s most recent work, will be on show in the Sir Hugh Lane Room. The video installation presents a silent, large-scale projection of an uprooted poppy against a black background. This will be the first display of the work at the gallery and its first appearance in Ireland.
On show from 28 January to 28 May in the Grand Gallery is St Dymphna. The Tragedy of an Irish Princess. A legendary sixth or seventh-century Irish saint and the daughter of a Celtic king, the exhibition explores Dymphna’s tragic life story. The panels by Goossen Van der Weyden are unique, as they are the only known pieces from the sixteenth century exploring the life of St Dymphna.
Then from 25 February a new spring exhibition will be on view in the Print Gallery. Running until 5 June, Pastel Revealed will highlight the richness of the gallery’s pastel collection. With works spanning four centuries and showcasing a number of skilled practitioners from both Ireland and abroad, it will highlight how the pastel technique has changed over time.
Highlights for the summer include a solo exhibition entitled Lavinia Fontana: Trailblazer, Rule Breaker (6 May – 27 August 2023). The late sixteenth-century Bolognese artist Fontana was a ground-breaking artist of her time and is widely considered to be the first female artist to achieve professional success beyond the confines of a court or a convent.
The full 2023 exhibition programme is available at the National Gallery of Ireland, but for those thinking of a Dublin autumn break, pencil in the exhibition on pioneering Irish artist Sarah Purser. Presenting a selection of Purser’s finest oils, Sarah Purser: Private Worlds will highlight the artist’s interest in a more intimate style of portraiture and in scenes of domestic life. It runs from 21 October until 25 February 2024 in the Sir Hugh Lane Room.
One of Dublin’s most popular attractions, the National Gallery of Ireland is located just a short stroll from Trinity College and Merrion Square in the city. It houses the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive library and archive.
Entry to the permanent collection, and many of the temporary exhibitions, is free for all. Free guided tours are also available at weekends. Family packs and drawing and creative writing kits are available to borrow for free. Facilities include a shop, café, and wheelchair access to all levels.
