Established in 1864 to house a permanent public art display, the National Gallery of Ireland now boasts an excellent collection of art from some of the masters of Western painting.
Of course, there’s a healthy dose of Irish paintings to be found here as well.
As art lover myself, I naturally had to spend a morning here while visiting Dublin.
Keep reading to find out some of the best things to see at the National Gallery of Ireland!
Table of Contents
Best paintings to see at the National Gallery of Ireland
The Taking of Christ by Caravaggio (1602)
Probably my favorite painting at the National Gallery of Ireland. Italian artist Caravaggio shows off his mastery of chiaroscuro to perfection.
The painting depicts Christ as the moment of his betrayal by Judas, who is greeting Christ with a kiss while the soldiers close in for the arrest.
The painting doesn’t actually belong to the National Gallery of Ireland. Believing to have been lost for over 200 years, it was rediscovered in 1990 at the residence of the Society of Jesus (better known as the Jesuits) in Dublin. After its authentication, it was restored and given on indefinite loan to the gallery.
The Liffey Swim by Jack B. Yeats (1923)
In one of his early forays into the Expressionist style that would categorize his later works, Irish painter Jack B. Yates depicts the eponymous swimming competition that takes place annually on the River Liffey in Dublin.
The painting won Yates a Silver Medal in the art competitions of the 1924 Summer Olympics.
(Coincidentally, the 1924 Summer Olympics were the first in which Ireland was represented as an independent nation at the Olympics . For more trivia about the 1924 Olympic Games, check out my article here.)
In case you’re wondering, yes – Jack B. Yeats was the brother of Nobel Prize-winning author, William Butler Yeats.
Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid by Johannes Vermeer (c. 1670)
Dutch painter Vermeer is famous for his domestic interior scenes of middle-class life in 17th Netherlands, and Lady Writing a Letter with her Maid is a fine example.
It was one of several paintings stolen by the IRA in 1974. After its recovery, it was stolen again in 1986 before being recovered in a sting operation at Antwerp Airport in 1993.
The Meeting on the Turret Stairs by Frederic William Burton (1864)
I love a good history painting. While this isn’t quite that (the painting doesn’t portray a historical event), it does depict a medieval scene from the Danish ballad Hellalyle and Hildebrand, as seen through the lens of Victorian imagination. The ballad had been translated into English by Whitley Stokes, the painter’s friend.
The Meeting on the Turret Stairs is a watercolor, so its delicate state means it can only be viewed at select times. See the National Gallery of Art’s official website for details.
Portrait of Alessandro Farnese by Sofonisba Anguissola (c. 1560)
Sofonisba came from an impoverished aristocratic family. She learned to paint and was recruited by the Spanish court to become tutor and lady-in-waiting to the queen, eventually rising to become official court painter. Returning to Italy, she died at the ripe old age of 93.
Alessandro Farnese, the subject of the painting, is depicted here at 15 years old. He became Duke of Parma and is perhaps best known for his miliary successes during the Dutch Revolt and the French Wars of Religion.
A Convent Garden, Brittany by William John Leech (c. 1913)
Irish painter Leech’s wife poses as a novice at a convent, whose nuns can be seen in the background. She wears the costume of a Breton bride, which novices customarily wore when they entered the convent.
Kitchen Maid with the Supper at Emmaus by Diego Velázquez (c. 1618)
Believed to be one of the great Spanish painter’s earliest known works, Kitchen Maid with the Supper at Emmaus is a bodegone, a still life depicting pantry items, which the artist painted frequently early in his career.
Christ appearing to his disciples at Emmaus can be seen in the background.
In a Dublin Park, Light and Shade by Walter Osborne (c. 1895)
Irish painter Walter Osborne is known for his sympathetic depictions of the working class and In a Dublin Park, Light and Shade shows exactly that.
In contrast to the pleasant surroundings, five figures sit in a Dublin park. They represent different stages of life, from infancy to old age. With its depiction of light, the painting exhibits influences from Impressionism.
How to visit the National Gallery of Ireland
Opening times
Monday: 11:00 am – 5:30pm
Tuesday and Wednesday: 9:15am – 5:30pm
Thursday: 9:15am – 8:30pm
Friday and Saturday: 9:15am – 5:30pm
Sunday: 11:00am – 5:30pm
Location and how to get there
There are 2 entrances: one on Merrion Square West and the other on Clare Street.
On foot: 10 minutes from St. Stephen’s Green and Trinity College.
By LUAS light rail: The closest stop is on the green line at Dawson Street (6-minute walk).
By hop-on-hop-off bus: Tourist hop-on-hop-off buses usually include a stop near the National Gallery, at Leinster Street South.
By bus: Several buses also stop here. The closest bus stations is Merrion Square North (bus lines 4 and 7).
Ticket prices
The permanent exhibit is free!
Time to spend
I recommend around 2 – 3 hours
Café
The gallery has a nice café located on the ground floor. Bright and airy, I found it to be a pleasant place to enjoy a coffee, tea, and some light refreshments. Note that the café’s hours may differ from the gallery’s.
There you have it! A few of the most outstanding pieces from the National Gallery of Ireland. Of course, there is much, much more to see. Did I miss your favorite? Let me know in the comments!
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