THIS show was an imaginative conception, which of course guarantees nothing in practice; but in this case actuality has lived up to theory. The basic idea was Noel Sheridan's and was, in effect, to assemble a selection of drawings which would virtually chart art teaching in Ireland from the time when Thomas West founded his Drawing School in 1746 down to the present era of the NCAD. The scholarly hand of John Turpin can also be felt, but this is not merely a historicist event, it is a wideranging exhibition which has plenty of contemporary vitality. It also has an excellent catalogue, which should prove more than useful for budding art scholars.
Give or take a few museum pieces, there is plenty of interest in the early section: typical works by Petrie, Brocas, Barry, etc. There is also a fine, unflattering self portrait by Martin Archer Shee, and an atmospheric Scottish landscape (in watercolour) by the still slightly mysterious John Faulkner.
The section "Exemplary Drawings" is explained by the fact that the Royal Dublin Society acquired busts and drawings which pupils might study. These include a powerful classical scene by Lebrun and surprise fine watercolours by Peter de Wint.
We launch into the 20th century with Orpen, Sarah Purser (her familiar pastel of Maud Gonne) and some of Michael Healy's inimitable watercolours, which are to Irish art what James Stephens's early writing is to Irish literature. The two great stained glass artists, Geddes and Clarke, are represented and Patrick Touhy's The Little Seamstress is allowed in because it is a watercolour. Good pieces by Jellett, Keating, Sean O'Sullivan, Harry Kernoff's 1931 portrait of Austin Clarke and Maurice McGonigal's of Kernoff typical works by Nano Reid, Norah McGuinness add up to a kind of potted history of the period.
The NCAD's recent decades have been among the most creative in its history, when it freed itself from the hidebound, fading academicians and charted i4s own course. There are too many works and names to give any adequate summing up, but those I singled out included Mary Rose Binchy, Cecily Brennan, Joe Butler, Carey Clarke, Charles Cullen, Paul Funge, Patrick Graham, Mary Avril Gillan, Pat Harris, Darragh Hogan, Mary Lohan, Alice Maher, Bernie Markey Michael Mulcahy, James McKenna, Mick O'Dea, Eamon O'Kane, Charles Tyrrell. Many of these are now established artists, others no doubt soon will be. It all goes to show how much energy and talent has been unleashed over the past
20 years, in particular.
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