The National Gallery of Ireland is a relatively small gallery, and well worth a visit. It's free (although donations are encouraged) and there are free guided tours at the week-end. If you don't join a tour, take a copy of the 'Plans' leaflet in the entrance hall, which shows the layout of the gallery rooms. Here's a suggested tour of the highlights :
Start with the Irish Art section, in rooms 1 thru 6, straight through the entrance hall. Many Irish artists from the 1890's and the early part of the 20th century actually spent several years in France and Belgium and are sometimes known as The Irish Impressionists: these include, in room 4, Walter Osborne (see A Cottage Garden and In a Dublin Park), in room 5 are William John Leech ( Convent Garden Brittany), William Orpen (Sunlight) and Roderic O'Conor (Young Breton Girl and Reclining Nude ). Don't miss Paul Henry's Launching The Currach and The Potato Diggers in room 5. In the last room, you'll notice more works by women, including Mainie Jellett, Evie Hone, Sarah Purser:
you'll see more of their works at The Hugh Lane Gallery.
Turn left into the Multimedia room: the facilities here are really easy to use, and a quick way to find information on any painting in the Gallery.
Continue through to room 8: the new Yeats Museum. Jack B. Yeats is regarded as Ireland's first internationally-known modern artist, and this museum is dedicated to him and his family, and includes works by Anne Yeats, and the beautiful paintings by his father John B. Yeats, a famous portrait painter. Jack B. Yeats' paintings portray life in the west of Ireland in the early 20th century, and don't miss his later paintings, for example Men of Destiny and Above The Fair.
Proceed upstairs to the modern French section, rooms 10 - 13: small, but includes works by Corot, Millet, Monet on one side, and on the other side (room 13) are represented Vlaminck, Emil Nolde, Picasso's Still Life with Mandolin and Gris.
The famous Taking of Christ by Caravaggio, is in room 19 and not to be missed. While you're there, see the paintings by Juisepe Ribera, and in room 20 there's Supper at Emmaus by Titian.
Some of the gallery's most famous paintings are in rooms 30-31, and on the way, take a look at the Flemish paintings in room 26 (for example, Peasant Wedding by Pieter Brueghel) and the Rembrandt School paintings in room 29.
Finally, rooms 30/31: see Vermeer's Lady writing a Letter and Man writing a letter by Gariel Metsu. Goya's Dona Antonia, Velazquez' Kitchen Maid at Emmaus, and works by El Greco and Zuberan.
If you're still interested, there's usually a good exhibition in The Print Room (39) and there's a comprehensive section on British painting on the ground floor.
The shop has a good selection of books, catalogues and gifts. The restaurant serves really excellent food and is a good place to stop for lunch, or just a coffee break.
Free Guided Tours on Saturday and Sunday afternoons; free use of Multimedia units.
Vistors with disabilities: access by lift to all levels; tactile picture sets, guide in braille, and an Access Guide are available.
