Caravaggio (1571-1610)
The Taking of Christ, 1602
Courtesy of the Jesuit Community, Leeson Street, Dublin who acknowledge the generosity of the late Dr Marie Lea-Wilson.
Photo © National Gallery of Ireland

The Taking of Christ by Caravaggio (1571-1610) is on temporary loan to a major exhibition at the Scuderie del Quirinale in Rome to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the artist’s death. This landmark exhibition presents a unique opportunity to reunite key works by an extraordinary artist. The Taking of Christ will be back on view in July.

In 1902, the Countess of Milltown presented the National Gallery of Ireland with the contents of Russborough, Co. Wicklow. This extraordinary gift included three eighteenth-century scagliola table tops which were commissioned
by Joseph Leeson, later 1st Earl of Milltown, on a
visit to Florence in the 1740s. The largest of the Milltown tables (currently on loan to Russborough), is a magnificent example of scagliola work at its most refined (scagliola is a technique which involves creating compositional inlays of pigmented gypsum that are polished to a marble like finish.). In January, under the supervision of the Gallery's Conservation Department, two specialist conservators from the Opificio delle Pietre Dure in Florence carried out the necessary restoration work on the table which involved surface cleaning and repair of the damage along the edges. Finally, they recreated any areas of lost decoration using watercolours in what is called the 'selezione cromatica' technique, to ensure that any retouching is visible to the naked eye while blending in overall. The scagliola table top now rests on its original eighteenth-century carved gilded console base and will remain on display in Russborough.

New Gallery Website

Within the next three months, the National Gallery will roll out its new website which will include access to much of its collections online. The new website will allow the public
to access a full range of information relating to the collections, with content that includes news and events, image galleries, booking forms and special features.

Users will have access to an online selection of paintings, works on paper and sculpture as well as access to the Gallery's library catalogues and a sections of its archives and special collections. www.nationalgallery.ie

The National Gallery of Ireland 2010 Calendar has won the National Business Calendar Award (UK & Ireland) in the category of 'best museum calendar'. Designed by Jason Ellams and printed by Colorman (Ireland) Ltd, this award represents the third win for the Gallery in the past 10 years. The 2010 calendar (now sold out) was published in association with FBD.
Email bookshop@ngi.ie or telephone (01) 663 3518.

Spring Music Programme

The Royal Irish Academy of Music Presents:
Trios@3 and more…
Sundays 7, 14, 21 & 28 March, 3pm
Piano: John O'Conor, Hugh Tinney, Lance Coburn
Cello: William Butt, Aisling Drury Byrne
Violin: Fionnuala Hunt, Michael d'Arcy
A programme featuring some of the greatest chamber music works by composers Shostakovich, Bartók, Mozart, and Robert Schumann, amongst others. In association with the National Gallery of Ireland.
Tickets €12/€5 concessions

Chopin 200!
Many of Ireland's finest pianists, emerging and professional, salute Fryderyk Chopin on the 200th anniversary of his birth,
in a series of concerts:

Happy Birthday Chopin!
Monday 1 March, 7pm
Join pianists: John O'Conor, Maria McGarry, Dearbhla Collins, Conor Linehan, Lance Coburn, Hugh Tinney, Anthony Byrne and Thérèse Fahy for a performance of Chopin's Ballades, Scherzi and Andante Spianato.
Tickets: €20/€12 concessions

The Poet of the Piano
Saturdays 6, 13, 20 and 27 March, 1.05 pm
A veritable feast of piano playing by some of Ireland's finest emerging talents. Enjoy Chopin's Preludes, Nocturnes, Ballades, Scherzi, Etudes and many other works for piano over four Saturday lunchtimes.
Tickets: €5

Piano Plus
Thursday 25 March, 6.30 pm
Cello: Annette Cleary and Miriam Roycroft
Piano: Réamonn Keary and Conor Linehan
Violin: Michael d?Arcy
Flautist: William Dowdall
RIAM members will highlight some of the composer's greatest chamber music works including his Piano Trio and Sonata for Piano and Cello.
Tickets: €10/€5 concessions

RTÉ Cór na nÓg
Wednesday 17 March
(St. Patrick's Day), 4pm
Choral Director: Máire Mannion
Piano: Alison Thomas
Programme to include traditional Irish songs such as 'Róisín Dubh', and 'The Lark in the Clear Air'.
Admission free.

All listed concerts take place in the Shaw Room unless otherwise indicated.

The Schumann Story: Clara & Robert
Thursday 8 April, 7.30pm

Opera Theatre Company celebrates the 200th anniversary of the birth of the great composer, Robert Schumann with an intimate biography of Clara, his wife, companion and muse, told in letters and music. Starring award-winning actor Ingrid Craigie as Clara, with mezzo-soprano Imelda Drumm and baritone Julian Hubbard performing Schumann’s finest Lieder. Piano accompaniment is by David Bremner. This enchanting performance features some of the greatest love songs ever written.

Tickets: €16/13.50 concessions
Online booking: www.ticketoffice.ie/otc
Telephone (Mon-Fri, 10am-5.30pm): (01) 670 8326