Reflections in the winter light

A Light In The Darkness, National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Sq West and Clare St, Dublin Mon-Sat 9.30am- 5.30pm, Thurs 9

A Light In The Darkness,National Gallery of Ireland, Merrion Sq West and Clare St, Dublin Mon-Sat 9.30am- 5.30pm, Thurs 9.30am- 8.30pm, Sun noon-5.30pm Until Jan 31 (01-6615133)

Nowadays the Print Gallery in the National Gallery of Ireland is equipped with lighting designed to preserve and protect its valuable charges. But when the Vaughan Bequest of Turner watercolours arrived, it came with the stipulation that the works only be exhibited during January, when the winter light is limited and hence less likely to damage the pigments. It’s good that the tradition has been preserved, though, as

the annual display not only provides a punctuation point for the year but also focuses our attention on a great body of work that we might otherwise take for granted.

This year the watercolours are accompanied by works from the Mary A McNeill Bequest, watercolours and miniatures dating from the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, by such artists as John Comerford, Richard Crosse and William Grimaldi.

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Aidan Dunne

Aidan Dunne

Aidan Dunne is a visual arts critic and contributor to The Irish Times