Volunteer Artwork of the Month

The National Gallery of Ireland is proud of its panel of enthusiastic and dedicated volunteers.

Volunteers play an important role in many areas of the Gallery, from welcoming our visitors as they enter the Gallery to showing that anyone can be an artist in the Creative Space. They ensure that the Gallery is consistently offering an outstanding visitor experience. In return, Gallery volunteers deepen their knowledge of art, develop a variety of skills, meet like-minded art enthusiasts, and more. Our volunteers are often the first point of contact for people who come into the Gallery. As part of a new series, we're asking our volunteers to share the artwork they tell visitors not to miss when exploring the Gallery for the first time. 

Maura Fennell chose Demosthenes on the Seashore by Eugène Delacroix (1798-1863).  Scroll down to read more. 

Detail from Eugène Delacroix, 'Demosthenes on the Seashore', 1859. Image © National Gallery of Ireland

What do you like about this artwork? Does it have any personal significance for you?

I love both the story behind this painting and the manner in which it is depicted. It’s an oil on paper, laid on wood, painted in 1859 by Eugène Delacroix, the most famous French colourist of the romantic period.  It shows the renowned Athenian statesman Demosthenes striding barefoot along a beach, arms outstretched, practising one of his speeches as the waves crash to shore around his feet. 

It’s a painting about grit and overcoming adversity. Despite having a speech impediment, described as an ‘inarticulate and stammering pronunciation’, Demosthenes became one of the greatest Greek orators of all time. The painting shows one of the methods he used to overcome this impediment: practice. They say the best way to prepare to speak in public is to speak out loud - not to read the text to yourself - and this is exactly what Demosthenes is doing here, striding along the beach, projecting his voice over the sound of the raging sea. Look carefully, and you can see two figures on the rocks behind him, gesticulating. They seem to be concerned at the sight of this great man talking to the waves, which adds an extra layer of humanity and, to my mind, humour, to the painting.  

Every time I look at this piece, its sense of drama hits me anew. The energy jumps off the canvas and it’s as if I’m right there beside this virile fellow as he pounds the shore beneath the stormy sky, beside the swirling, angry sea. Yet, the dark tones of both sky and sea are laced with streaks of white, indicating that there is always light within the darkness, just as there is hope within adversity, if we are brave enough to search, and fight, for it.  

I’d encourage everyone to stand in front of this wonderful painting and soak it up, especially if your spirits are in need of a lift.

Thank you, Maura! Find Demosthenes on the Seashore hanging in Room 46 the next time you visit us.

You can read more about the Gallery's Volunteer Programme here. 

Please note that we are not currently seeking volunteers - our next callout will be in late 2026.