Ireland Gallery Exhibits Special Selection Of Jack Yeats Paintings

Included in the display are eleven paintings by Yeats, among them two early masterpieces in oil depicting scenes of the Civil War, 'The Funeral of Harry Boland' (1922), and 'Communicating with Prisoners' (c.1924), as well as later works such as 'Leaving the Far Point' (1946) which the artist presented to Sligo Corporation shortly before his death. There are also paintings echoing the artist's love of the sea in 'Sailor Home from the Sea', (1912) and 'The Sea and the Lighthouse' (1947), alongside 'Singing The Minstrel Boy' (1923); 'A Western Town, Night' (1925); 'White Shower' (1928); 'The Graveyard Wall' (1945), and 'Mountain Window', (1946).

Raymond Keaveney, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, thanked Sligo County Council for generously lending the works: "Having this special group of Jack B.Yeats paintings on loan from The Niland Collection is a fitting tribute to the artist, who was brought up in Sligo and always retained fond memories and strong emotional ties with this part of the country ", he added.

"We are delighted to bring this outstanding collection of Jack B. Yeats paintings from Sligo to Dublin so that new audiences can enjoy these exceptionally important works," says Sarah Glennie, Director, The Model Arts and Niland Gallery.

Curated by Dr. Róisín Kennedy (NGI Fellowship Scholar), the exhibition is presented in collaboration with The Model Arts and Niland Gallery. It opens in the Gallery's Yeats Museum and continues until November 30th, 2008. -- www.nationalgallery.ie