b't h enat i o na lg a l l e ryofi r e l a n d ManybenefactorstotheNationalGalleryofIrelandhave is the countrys premier cultural attraction devoted to the care,been introduced through The Worldwide Ireland Funds. The Mil-research, and display of its national collection of fine and modern lennium Wing is the most recent addition to the Gallerys complexart. Founded in 1854 by an Act of Parliament, and opened toof buildings, which was designed by Benson & Forsyth and openedthe public in 1864, the Gallery houses over 14,500 works of art to the public in 2002. This award-winning architectural facility inspanning the period circa 1300s to 1950s. As a national institution, Dublin city was funded by the European Regional Developmentthe Gallery has an important collection of historic Irish paintings Fund(ERDF),theShawFund,andnumerousIrelandFund datingfromtheseventeenthcenturywithworksbyThomas supporterssuchasLewGlucksmanandLorettaBrennan Roberts, James Barry, Nathaniel Hone, Daniel Maclise, Roderic Glucksman, Sir Anthony and Lady OReilly, Brian and EileenOConor, John Lavery, William Orpen, Mary Swanzy, Paul Henry, Burns, Fred and Kay Krehbiel.and Jack B. Yeats. The Gallery is also renowned for the range and More recently, a donor-advised gift by the Bank of Americaquality of its European collection, which comprises important Foundation has enabled the conservation of one of the most works by Fra Angelico, Caravaggio, Rembrandt, Poussin, Goya,important historic Irish pictures in the Gallerys collection, ThePicasso, Bonnard, and Van Gogh. Funded by the State, the Gallery Marriage of Strongbow and Aoife (1854) by Cork-born artistprovides free access to the public seven days a week. DanielMaclise(1806-1870).Theprojectonthisenormous Sinceitsinception,theGalleryhasbeenthefortunatecanvas (317 x 515 cm) commenced in October 2010 with the aim ofrecipient of bequests and gifts. In 1950, the Gallery was listed as a preserving this significant work for future generations. Given itsbeneficiary of the estate of Irish writer and playwright George history, execution, and exceptional scale, the project, which isBernard Shaw (1856-1950), who had a long relationship with the being carried out by the Gallerys Conservation Department, ledinstitution.TheincomefromShawsroyaltieshasgreatlyby Simone Mancini, presents many exciting challenges. To ensurebenefited the Gallery over the years, con- that the conservation process on the painting cantributing to the acquisition of over 100 works be communicated to a wider public, the Galleryof art, in addition to a generous contribution Visitors can accesshas devoted a special section to the project on itstowards the construction of the Millennium website (Saving a National Treasure), with videoWing (2002). Other prominent benefactors of footageonprogresstodatetogetherwith over 2,500 works from theGalleryincludeAlfredChesterBeatty commentaries from sponsors and conservation(1875-1978),theIrishAmericanmining scientists. The National Gallery of Ireland, likethe gallerys collectionmogul who gifted 93 paintings representative many of its sister institutions, is responding tooftherealistandorientalisttraditionsin the changes in todays society and environmentnineteenth-centuryFrenchart.Without through its website: that present new challenges for the museum doubt, the presentation in 1987 of seventeen sector. A growing awareness of cultural tourismmasterpieces from the prestigious collection www.nationalgallery.ie encouragesheritagesitesliketheNationalof Sir Alfred and Lady Beit constituted one of Gallery of Ireland to develop its programmes andthe most celebrated gifts of the twentieth cen- servicesinlinewithtwenty-firstcentury tury comprising rare works by Vermeer, Velzquez, Goya, Hals, and practices,bothonsiteandonline.Today,theinstitutionhas Metsu. Paintings by Picasso and Gris entered the collection in 1986 enabled greater access to its collection and ancillary programmesthroughthegenerosityofMireMacNeillSweeney,whose through developments in its web technology. Visitors can accessbrother-in-law, James Johnson Sweeney, was former director of over 2,500 works from the Gallerys collection through its websitethe Guggenheim Museum in New York. In 1993, Caravaggios long (www.nationalgallery.ie), as well as follow progress on excitinglost masterpiece The Taking of Christwas unveiled to the public and conservation projects such as Maclises The Marriage of Strongbowplaced on indefinite loan to the National Gallery, where it takes and Aoife. In 2011, the National Gallery of Ireland embarked on anpride of place in the collection.extensive refurbishment programme of its historic complex ofThe last two decades have seen enormous development in the buildings on Merrion Square, namely the Dargan and Milltownform of gifts to the collection and contributions towards building wings which date to 1864 and 1903 respectively. The project projects. The Gallerys library and archive collections, which house involvestherepairandreplacementoftheroofstoprovide and research material from the Yeats Archive, Centre for the Study advanced daylight control for the exhibition spaces below. The of Irish Art, and Fine Art Library have been enriched with items entire fabric and services of the building will also be upgraded toof historic value and enable members of the public, students, andmodern standards, which will greatly improve the Gallerys abilityhistorians to better understand the development of the visualto protect, preserve, and display the collection. It will provide forarts in Ireland. In 2010, Sir Denis Mahon (1900-2011), one of the new accommodation for the collection and a range of key opera-foremostcollectorsandscholarsofthetwentiethcentury,tions, including conservation, education, library, archives, andpresented his entire personal library and archive to the Gallery. photography.Whiletherefurbishmentanddevelopment This gift is considered the most important scholarly resource to programme will be the main focus of activity for the Gallery up untilthe Gallery in recent years.2015, visitors will continue to have access to the best of the collection on display. There will also be opportunities to bring itscollection to a wider audience nationally and internationally. connect2012 | 24'