A Time and a Place: Two Centuries of Irish Social Life brings together 83 paintings and watercolours by some of Ireland's most accomplished figurative painters of the eighteenth, nineteenth, and twentieth centuries, among them William van der Hagen, James Arthur O'Connor, Lilian Davidson, William Conor, Sean Keating, Mainie Jellett, Harry Kernoff, Paul Henry, Jack B. Yeats, Elizabether Rivers, Gerard Dillon and Louis le Brocquy.
The exhibition covers themes such as sport, music, dance, theatre and entertainment, as well as religious and civic celebration and is an opportunity to display together works by renowned artists that, though created independently, were inspired by the same subjects and at the same time provides an informative insight into how people and communities went about their daily lives and how they relaxed and enjoyed themselves.
Dr. Brendan Rooney, curator of the exhibition and editor of the accompanying catalogue, says that: "none of the recorders of Irish life featured in this exhibition can be said to have approached their subjects with an innocent eye, despite their documented familiarity with the subject, or the authenticity afforded by their physical or implied presence. The variety and testimony that these scenes of social life represent and the relativity of their pictorial language are fascinating subjects in their own right."
Raymond Keaveney, Director of the National Gallery, says that there is so much more in this exhibition which we can all relate to, either directly or through conversations and stories which have been passed down to us. He added that the assembly of these works is in great part due to the generosity of the many lenders, both public and private and to the sponsorship provided by Key Capital Private and Deutsche Bank.
"We are delighted to be associated with this exhibition", says Conor Killeen, Chief Executive Officer of Key Capital- the Irish specialist financial adviser- "In revealing Ireland's rich social fabric as seen by its own artists, the organisers of this exhibition have captured a perfect time and place for us all to celebrate the irrepressible spirit of Ireland", he added.
Co-ordinated by Fionnuala Croke, Head of Exhibitions, the exhibition has been curated by Dr. Brendan Rooney with the support of colleagues and a number of eminent scholars outside the Gallery, all of whom have worked together to assemble this wonderful panorama of Irish life.
Complementing the exhibition is a beautifully illustrated and comprehensive catalogue which has been edited by Dr. Brendan Rooney and includes essays by Professor Mary Daly ('Two Centuries of Irish Social Life') and Dr. Rooney (''A Very Minor Virtue'?-The Notion of Accuracy in Scenes of Irish Social Life') with additional commentaries provided by Dr. Claudia Kinmonth, William Laffan and Donal Maguire. Published by the National Gallery of Ireland (2006), price €29.95pb.
An associated series of public lectures will take place each Tuesday and Sunday over the coming weeks, and a 'Study Morning' on Saturday, November 25th will comprise talks and a discussion forum on aspects of Irish social life, followed by tours of the show.
A Time and a Place: Two Centuries of Irish Social Life will be open to the public until 28th January 2007. Tickets are €10 & €6 plus family and children concessions. -- www.nationalgallery.ie
Posted January 13th, 2007 by ruzik_tuzik
