Sir, - The exhibition of American paintings and sculpture at the National Gallery of Ireland ("American Beauty") is fine as far as it goes. However, the gallery's guide to the exhibition omits any reference to the connection between Irish and American painting.
For example, it features a painting by Robert Henri (an American painter). But it ignores the fact that the pivotal work of Robert Henri, which had a profound and historic effect on the course of American painting, was done in Ireland.
Much of Robert Henri's painting career took place on Achill Island. This is neither alluded to in the catalogue or, more particularly, in the guide to the exhibition prepared by the National Gallery. His connection with Ireland is not mentioned in the context of this exhibition.
Corrymore House is situated between Keel and Sneam Bay. This mansion was originally Captain Boycott's house. Early last century Robert Henri rented this house and later bought it. He established his studio there, which was also his home. He commuted to America on and off.
Apart from painting portraits of the local people, Henri is reputed to have painted over 500 canvases while in Achill. He certainly executed his most important work while he was living there.
I stayed in Corrymore house in the 1950s when Major Freyer occupied it. It may be also of interest to know that the original studio of Paul Henry (no relation to Robert Henri) still stands on the grounds of Corrymore House adjacent to the house.
Several years ago a party of 25 Americans came to Achill to see some reproductions of paintings of local Achill people painted by Henri. These were on exhibition in a restaurant in Keel (the Bolie House Restaurant). The importance of the work done by Robert Henri while in Achill and its subsequent influence on American painting is of consequence to both America and Ireland. When this exhibition closes in Dublin in September it will travel and be shown in the Netherlands, in France and in the US. This has important implications for Irish tourism.
Furthermore, this exhibition also shows a painting by Maurice Prendergast, whose forbears hailed from Ireland. This fact is neither mentioned nor alluded to in either the exhibition's catalogue nor the guide to the exhibition which was prepared by the gallery.
This withholding of relevant information, important to the Irish public and to the world of art, by the National Gallery amounts to misinformation. On top of this, in my opinion, the National Gallery of Ireland has a cheek and impertinence to charge the public an entrance fee to view an exhibition which the gallery itself has not bothered to research properly. - Yours, etc.,
Micheal Ó Nuallain,
Monkstown,
Co Dublin.