The National Gallery of Ireland opens its library and archives to the public with The Art of Painting, an exhibition that traces the journey from an artist’s initial inspiration to the finished canvas. Drawing on material ranging from 17th‑century sketches to the personal papers of Irish painters such as Mary Swanzy, Michael Cullen, Anne Yeats and William Orpen, the show follows two threads – “The Painter’s World” and “The Painter’s Studio”. Visitors can see the tools, palettes and preparatory studies that shaped some of Ireland’s most recognised works, offering insight into the creative process behind the pictures that hang on the Gallery’s walls.
Curated by a team of specialists from the Gallery’s research and archival departments, the exhibition highlights how painters have been influenced by their surroundings, their training and the material culture of their time. By presenting original documents alongside reproductions, the display invites a close look at the often‑hidden steps that lead to a finished painting.
Good to know
- Date: Thursday 1 April 2027
- Venue: National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Square West, Dublin
- Cost: Free admission
