Hugh Lane Gallery facts for kids
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Hugh Lane Gallery in 2015
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| Former name | Municipal Gallery of Modern Art |
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| Established | 1908 |
| Location | Charlemont House, Parnell Square North, Dublin |
| Type | art gallery |
| Founder | Hugh Lane |
| Public transit access | Parnell Luas stop (Green Line) |
The Hugh Lane Gallery is an exciting art museum in Dublin, Ireland. It's run by Dublin City Council and its own special trust. You can find this amazing gallery in a historic building called Charlemont House on Parnell Square. It was first known as the Municipal Gallery of Modern Art. The best part is that admission to the gallery is completely free!
Contents
Discovering the Gallery's History
The Hugh Lane Gallery was started by a famous art collector named Sir Hugh Lane. It opened its doors on January 20, 1908. This made it the very first public gallery in the world dedicated to modern art!
Sir Hugh Lane paid for the gallery's running costs himself. He was always looking for a permanent home for his wonderful collection. Sadly, he passed away in 1915 when the RMS Lusitania sank. He never got to see his gallery in its forever home. Since 1933, the gallery has been located in Charlemont House.
The Story of Lane's Art Collection
Sir Hugh Lane's official will stated that his art collection should go to London. However, he wrote a special note, called a codicil, before he died. This note said that 39 of his paintings should go to Dublin. This would happen if Dublin could find a permanent gallery for them within five years.
The National Gallery in London did not accept this note. So, all the paintings became part of their collection, known as the Lane Bequest. In 1938, a suggestion was made to share the paintings. Sir Robert Witt suggested that the pictures could be shown in London and Dublin in turns. He felt that London had many treasures, while Ireland had fewer.
This led to a special agreement in 1959. Half of the Lane Bequest paintings would be lent to Dublin every five years. In 1993, the agreement changed again. Now, 31 of the 39 paintings would stay in Ireland permanently. The remaining 8 paintings were divided into two groups. Four of these would be lent to Dublin for six years at a time. These include works by famous artists like Manet, Monet, Pissarro, and Renoir. In 2008, all the paintings were displayed together in Dublin for the first time ever!
Exploring Charlemont House
Charlemont House is a grand old mansion in Dublin. It was built in 1763. The famous architect William Chambers designed it for James Caulfeild, who was the 1st Earl of Charlemont. It's a beautiful brick building on Parnell Square.
In 1929, the gardens of the house were used to build an extension for the gallery. The building officially opened as a museum in 1933. The gallery closed for some important updates in 2004. It reopened in May 2006 with a new, modern extension. The gallery is also easy for everyone to visit, as it is completely wheelchair-accessible.
What You Can See: The Art Collection
The Hugh Lane Gallery has a wonderful permanent collection of art. It also hosts special exhibitions, often featuring talented contemporary Irish artists. There's even a special room dedicated to the artist Sean Scully.
One of the most unique parts of the gallery is the reconstructed studio of artist Francis Bacon. His studio was carefully taken apart in London starting in 1998. Then, it was rebuilt piece by piece in the gallery in 2001. It's like stepping right into his creative space!
Famous French Art
The Hugh Lane is well-known for its collection of French art. These are the Lane Bequest pictures. They include amazing works like The Umbrellas by Auguste Renoir. You can also see Portrait of Eva Gonzalès by Édouard Manet. Other highlights are Manet's Music in the Tuileries and Jour d’Été by Berthe Morisot. There's also View of Louveciennes by Camille Pissarro.
Stained Glass and More
The museum also has a beautiful permanent display of stained glass. This includes The Eve of St. Agnes by the Irish artist Harry Clarke. The gallery even purchased another of his works in 2015.
A Recovered Painting
In June 1992, a painting called In The Omnibus by French artist Honore Daumier was stolen. This happened during the day when the gallery was open. More than 20 years later, in 2013, the painting was found! The gallery's director, Barbara Dawson, was thrilled. She said it was a big shock when it was stolen. Many galleries around the world sent messages of support.
Past Exhibitions to Remember
The Hugh Lane Gallery has hosted many interesting exhibitions over the years. These shows often feature new and exciting artists.
Sleepwalkers was a special project from 2012 to 2015. Six artists were invited to use the museum's resources. They shared their artistic process and worked together. This led to each artist having their own solo exhibition at the Hugh Lane.
In 2019–20, Kennedy Browne, a duo of artists, showed three films. These films were part of their Redaction Trilogy.
The largest Andy Warhol show ever to come to Ireland opened in October 2023. It was called Andy Warhol Three Times Out. This was the first Warhol exhibit in Ireland in 25 years!
See also
In Spanish: Galería Hugh Lane para niños
