Located in Merrion Square adjacent to Leinster House, the National Gallery now houses the National collection of historic Irish & European fine art.

The National Gallery collection now holds over 15,000 works of art, which dates from the 13th to the 20th Century. Highlights of their collection included Johannes Vermeer’s ‘Woman writing a letter, with her Maid’, Caravaggio’s ‘The Taking of Christ’, Turner’s ‘A Ship against the Mewstone’, Pablo Picasso’s ‘Still life with a Mandolin’, Mainie Jellet’s ‘Decoration’ and ‘The Meeting of the turret stairs’ by Frederic William Burton.

In the print gallery ‘Jack of All Trades’ – Yeats punch cartoons and illustrations by Irish Artists is now open and a selection of paintings from the European and Irish collections; a display of works by Jack B. Yeats has recently been added.

The Gallery came about when in 1852 William Dargan, approached the Royal Dublin Society with an offer to underwrite a spectacular exhibition on Leinster Lawn.

In 1866 an annual purchase grant of £1000 (old Irish Pounds) was allocated for pictures for the exhibition & in 1901 the Countess of Milltown gave over 200 pictures, furniture, books and a collection of silver to the gallery from her house at Russborough, Co Wicklow, her gift was so substantial that the Gallery had to expand its space and a new construction was built.

Over the past 150 years the series of buildings, which make up the Gallery were developed and in 2002 was inaugurated with the Millennium wing, the structure and purpose for this intervention is to allow for future development, it also meant that a new entrance to the Gallery was opened on Clare Street.

In 1993 the Gallery received a lot more attention when Caravaggio’s ‘The Taking of Christ’ painting recorded in contemporary biographies on the artist and known through copies, but not long believed to be lost or destroyed it was discovered in a Jesuit house of studies in Dublin. Today the picture still remains in the Gallery but is said to be on loan from the Jesuit fathers.

Admission Fees:

free of charge
some temporary exhibitions may carry a charge

Opening Hours:

Monday 11am to 5pm
Tuesday to Saturday 9.45am to 5.30pm 
Sunday 11.30am to 5.30pm

Location:

National Gallery of Ireland,
Merrion Square West,
D02 K303

The National Gallery of Ireland is located 25 minute walk or 10 minute drive from the hotel.
Public transport can also be taken, our front desk staff will be able to guide you on these.