Turner: A Light in the Darkness

National Gallery of Ireland, Clare St, Dublin Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Thurs 9.30am-8.30pm, Sun noon- Jan 1-31 5

National Gallery of Ireland, Clare St, Dublin Mon-Sat 9.30am-5.30pm, Thurs 9.30am-8.30pm, Sun noon- Jan 1-31 5.30pm 01-6615133

If you don’t already mark the start of the New Year by visiting the annual month-long exhibition of the National Gallery’s collection of Turner watercolours, now is the time to start. Most of the watercolours came to the gallery via the Vaughan Bequest, with the stipulation that they are only displayed when the winter light levels are at their lowest. The idea is to protect the paper and pigments from the deleterious effects of strong light.

As it happens, the gallery now has a highly specified Print Gallery in which the light levels are carefully controlled, but the stipulation means that the annual display is something of an occasion.

Also on view will be silhouettes and miniatures from the Mary A Mc Neill Bequest and a programme of talks on the theme “Turner and Romantic Nature”.

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Creative Juices Cork Vision Centre@St Peters, Nth Main St, Cork Tues-Sat 10am-5pm Jan 3-28 021-4279925

Aidan Dunne

Aidan Dunne

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