National Gallery of Ireland – Dublin
In 1853, the Great Industrial Exhibition took place at the Leinster House in Dublin, the largest international event ever held in Ireland; among the various exhibitions, one of the most popular was the consistent exhibition of works of art organized by William Dargan.
Given the enthusiasm, it was decided to establish a permanent public art collection: the National Gallery of Ireland was founded in 1854, then officially opened to the public exactly ten years later, in 1864, housed in a neoclassical building designed by Francis Fowke.
The collection, originally composed of only 112 paintings, has been so enriched over the years that architectural extensions have become necessary; today the museum preserves a vast collection of Irish art, as well as numerous European and American works of art.
Info
National Gallery of Ireland
Link: www.nationalgallery.ie
