Through a Lens tour: Chinese Lunar New Year Festival

Detail of Vermeer's painting of a Woman Writing a Letter
Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), 'Woman Writing a Letter, with her Maid', c.1670. Image © National Gallery of IrelandCredit

About this online self-guided tour

This dual-language tour in Mandarin and English was written by Chun Zhu Wang to celebrate the Dublin Chinese Lunar New Year Festival. It's part of our ongoing Through a Lens series, which we hope will lead you on a journey of discovery through the galleries, highlighting popular works of art, inspiring stories and fascinating facts.

这次普通话及英文双语导览是艺术家王春竹女士为庆祝中国农历新年而编写的。这将是我们正在进行的“穿越镜头”系列活动的内容之一，我们希望通过这次导览可以引领您在爱尔兰皇家国立美术馆中探索和遨游，与此同时在这个活动中您也可以欣赏到美术馆的馆藏热门推荐艺术作品并通过本次活动了解到这些艺术作品背后的那些鼓舞人心并引人入胜的真实故事。

As you stroll through our galleries, look out for this selection of paintings. These visitor favourites are among the Gallery’s most requested works and are gems of the national collection.

当您漫步于我们的画廊时，请留意以下这些绘画作品。 这些画作是参观者的最爱也是美术馆最抢手的作品之一，并是国家收藏中的珍宝。

The selection of artworks is quite broad, spanning different centuries, styles, artists and genres. To help get you thinking and looking closely at the works you will find a few questions with each entry.  You can also follow the 'explore further' links under each entry to learn more about the artwork or about how the Gallery has engaged with it through projects, resources, podcasts and online content.

这些艺术品涉及范围很广，涵盖了不同的世纪，风格，艺术家和流派。 为了帮助您思考和仔细研究这些作品，每个作品介绍里我们都加入了一些问题。 您还可以点击每个条目下的“进一步探索”链接，以通过项目，资源，播客和在线内容进一步了解这些艺术品以及画廊与其之间的互动。

If you are following this tour onsite at the Gallery, taking in all the works will take approximately 60 minutes. Feel free to skip a few or spend longer at others. When in the Gallery, please be aware that you will be moving across various levels, which may require access to lifts. You can ask any member of staff to direct you to the closest lift. They will also be able to direct you to any other facilities you may require including a Changing Places facility located at the Merrion Square entrance.

如果您是在美术馆现场进行参观，参观完所有的作品将花费大约60分钟。当你遵循我们的单向系统时，作品将按照画廊中出现的顺序排列。您可以随意跳过一些，或花更多时间在喜欢的作品上。 当进入画廊时，请注意，您将跨不同的楼层，这可能需要使用电梯。 您可以要求任何工作人员将您引导到最近的电梯。 他们还将能够将您引向您可能需要的任何其他设施，包括位于Merrion Square入口处的更衣室设施。

"[The National Gallery of Ireland has] one of the great collections of Europe; one of the finest of its size – there is no better collection in the world."...Thomas Bodkin, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland (1927-1935)

“ [爱尔兰国家美术馆收藏的东西是欧洲最好的收藏之一；是欧洲规模最大的收藏之一–世界上没有更好的收藏。” ...爱尔兰国家美术馆总监托马斯·博德金（Thomas Bodkin，1927年 -1935）

This is presented in association with Dublin Chinese Lunar New Year Festival

这次活动是由2021年爱尔兰都柏林市政厅中国农历新年庆典组委会发出。

Start the tour!

Oil painting of spectators crowding along the quays of the River Liffey watching a swimming race
Jack B. Yeats (1871-1957), The Liffey Swim, 1923. Photo © National Gallery of Ireland.Credit

Room 14

Jack B. Yeats  (1871-1957), The Liffey Swim, 1923

Jack B. Yeats was born in London in 1871. He spent his early years moving with his family between London, Dublin, and Sligo, in the West of Ireland. Due to the environment Yeats grew up in, elements of sea and river can be found in many of his artworks.

In 1923 Yeats painted this scene, depicting the annual Liffey Swim competition that was first held in 1920. The painting won the silver medal for painting in the ‘Concourse D’Art’ at the 1924 Paris Olympics.​ In this work, Yeats invites the audience to participate in this event as spectators. The lively scene, with the crowd all leaning forward to catch a better view of the contestants shows the intense atmosphere of the race.

Among the cheering crowd, Yeats has cleverly incorporated his own self-portrait into the painting; the man wearing a grey fedora with a black band with his head turned is Yeats himself!

His work shows a keen interest in Expressionism, by using smooth and expressive brushstrokes as well as vibrant and bold colours.

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《利菲河之泳》叶芝

叶芝1871年出生于伦敦，自幼生活在爱尔兰都柏林以及西部的一个海港Sligo。由于生活的环境和童年的回忆， 他的绘画里充满了很多海水、河水的元素。1923年叶芝创作了“利菲河之泳”，本幅作品描绘了自1920年每年一度的传统游泳竞赛。

该作品获得了法国1924年奥林匹克绘画银奖。他邀请观众以观赛者的身份参加这场活动。热闹的场景，欢呼的人群， 众人身体向前倾为了更好看到参赛者比赛的场景。展现了比赛激烈的氛围。

在人群中，他巧妙的把自己的自画像融入了画作，其中那个戴着灰色软呢帽，黑色发带并回首的男人就是叶芝本人。

作品里展示出他对抽象表现主义的浓厚兴趣，以及流畅感性的笔触和充满活力而又大胆的色彩运用。

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Paul Henry (1876-1958), 'Launching the Currach', 1910-1911. © National Gallery of Ireland.
Paul Henry (1876-1958), 'Launching the Currach', 1910-1911. © Estate of Paul Henry, IVARO, 2021.Credit

Room 15

Paul Henry (1876-1958), Launching the Currach, 1910-1911

Paul Henry was born in Belfast and studied in Paris. He was an important Irish painter in the 20th century.

He is regarded as the first Irish post-impressionist artist to record traditional ways of life in a modern style.

Henry spent nine years on the small island of Achill, in the West of Ireland, during which he created countless paintings depicting local culture and beautiful landscapes.

This painting shows five fishermen pushing their boat out to sea in the early morning. Here, Henry is recording the traditional and simple life of Irish fishermen.

Different textures of blues are used in the painting; the thin layer of light blue used for the sky gives a transparent effect,  while the thick layers of blue used for the sea shows the dynamic motion and power of the waves.

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《出海》​亨利

保罗.亨利是一名出生于北爱尔兰贝尔法斯特的爱尔兰风景画家。后在法国学习绘画，是20世纪爱尔兰一位重要的画家。​

他以现代的风格记录传统的生活方式被视为第一个爱尔兰后印象派艺术家。​

保罗亨利在爱尔兰西部梅奥的Achill 小岛度过了九年的时光在此期间他创作了无数幅描绘了当地风土人情以及美丽风景的作品。​

这幅画作展示了清晨五位渔夫竭尽全力推着小船出海的场景。​他的作品记录了爱尔兰渔民们传统朴实的生活。

绘画中使用了不同的蓝色纹理，用于天空的浅蓝色薄层具有透明效果而用于海洋的蓝色厚层则是显示了海浪的动感和力量。

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William John Leech (1881-1968), A Convent Garden, Brittany, c.1913. Photo © National Gallery of Ireland. Credit

Room 18

William John Leech (1881-1968), A Convent Garden, Brittany, c.1913

William John Leech was an Irish painter born in Dublin. He painted interior domestic scenes, and also painted ‘en plein air’, or outdoors. His works include coastal port scenes, landscapes, interior domestic scenes, still life and portraits. His painting style was influenced by the Impressionist and Post-Impressionist painters, such as Monet and Van Gogh, and the colours he uses are often bright and vivid.

This work was created by Leech during his recovery from typhoid fever in a nun’s hospital and convent in 1904. The work depicts the painter's first wife Elizabeth holding a prayer book in the hospital’s walled garden during the summer, staring upwards as if recalling beautiful memories from the past. Can you spot the nuns behind her?

This work reflects the painter's keen interest in sunlight and patterns.

The intense sunlight, beautiful lilies, and the purity suggested by the white dress, all contribute to create a powerful visual impact and a peaceful, warm and happy atmosphere.

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《修道院花园》里奇

约翰.里奇出生于都柏林的爱尔兰画家。 这位画家擅长室内和室外‘en plein air’主题的绘画创作，作品包括沿海和    港口场景，风景，室内设计，静物和肖像等。其画风受印象派的莫奈和后印象派梵高等画家的影响，颜色明快艳丽丰富多彩。

本场景是里奇于1904年在修道院医院康复时所创作的作品 该作品描绘了画家的第一任妻子伊丽莎白在夏天的修道院医院后花园 手中拿着祈祷书，眼神向上凝视似乎在回忆美好的过去。你能看见她身后的修女吗？

同时作品反映了画家对宗教艺术的浓厚兴趣以及对阳光和图案的喜爱 也是爱尔兰天光派的典型作品。

强烈的光照，美丽的百合花，洁白的长裙 为这幅画营造了视觉冲击力以及和平，温暖， 幸福的氛围。

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Oil painting of a woman writing a letter at a table with a maid standing beside her
Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), 'Woman Writing a Letter, with her Maid', c.1670. Image © National Gallery of IrelandCredit

Room 38

Johannes Vermeer (1632-1675), Woman Writing a Letter, with her Maid, c.1670

This is one of Vermeer's most celebrated works in his late artistic career. The characters he painted are quiet, still, mysterious and solemn.The work depicts a young and elegant woman sitting at a table covered with a rug, writing a letter while the maid stares out the window.

The lighting on the left side of the woman is dim, but the wall behind is very bright. This strong contrast between light and dark visually moves the woman forward.

In the foreground, a letter seal, red wax, and a writing manual are scattered on the floor. These were all items commonly used at the time to write letters. The painting on the back wall depicts the biblical story of Moses found in the reeds. Perhaps this tells us more about the lives of the maid and the woman? What do you think?

This work also shows the artist’s bold attempt on a brand new composition method, by moving the frame of the painting to the left.

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《写信的女人与女佣》维米尔

《写信的女人与女佣》是维米尔艺术生涯晚期最出色的作品之一。他笔下的人物呈现安静地静态及神秘庄重的氛围。

作品描绘了一位年轻优雅的女子正坐在铺有毡毯的桌子旁全神贯注地写信而女仆则凝视着窗外。

女子的左侧昏暗，但后面的墙壁却非常明亮，强烈的明暗对比让女子在视觉上形成了空间前移。

在前景中，地板上散落着一枚红色印章、一根密封蜡，还有一封装在皱巴巴的封套里的书信，这些都是当时个人写信常用的物品。后墙上的画作描绘了在芦苇中发现摩西的圣经故事。也许这可以告诉我们更多有关女佣和妇女生活的信息？ 你怎么看？

该作品同时展示了作者大胆尝试左移框架的全新的构图方法。

点击下方链接来获取更多信息:
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), 'The Taking of Christ', 1602. © National Gallery of Ireland
Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), 'The Taking of Christ', 1602. On indefinite loan to the National Gallery of Ireland from the Jesuit Community, Leeson St., Dublin who acknowledge the kind generosity of the late Dr. Marie Lea-Wilson, 1992. Photo © National Gallery of Ireland.Credit

Room 25

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1571-1610), The Taking of Christ, 1602

Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, was an Italian Baroque painter, his style of painting subverts tradition and gives his audience a strong and lasting impact.

This painting was completed in 1602 during his short but productive period in Rome.These expressive characters, dramatic stories and fine details perfectly reflect the artist’s typical painting style.

He provided a refreshing visual expression of the biblical story, portraying the characters at close range. Where the moonlight illuminates the picture, it creates a strong contrast between light and dark, giving the scene a dramatic effect.

When the guards of the temple came to arrest Jesus, his identity was signalled by a kiss from Judas. St. John is fleeing in a panic on the left. Caravaggio himself appeared in the picture as the man carrying the lantern on the right.

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《基督被捕》​卡拉瓦乔

米开朗基罗. 卡拉瓦乔，意大利巴洛克画家，他的画风颠覆传统，给人强劲而持久的冲击。​

这幅绘画1602年完成于短暂但高产的罗马时期。​超有表现力的人物加以戏剧性的故事以及精细华丽的细节 完美的体现了画家典型的绘画风格。​

他为圣经故事提供了一种耳目一新的视觉表现方法，将人物近距离精细刻画，并且当月光照亮了画面形成了强烈的明暗光线对比，让场景具有了强烈的戏剧效果。​

当圣殿的守卫进来抓人时，耶稣的身份已经因为犹大的一个吻而泄露。左手边正慌乱逃离的是圣约翰，而米开朗基罗本人也出现在了画面中（右手边提灯的男子），成为了事件的观察者。

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Painting of a small group of figures surrounding a fire in a landscape at night
Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), 'Landscape with the Rest on the Flight into Egypt', 1647. Image, National Gallery of IrelandCredit

Rembrandt van Rijn (1606-1669), Landscape with the Rest on the Flight into Egypt, 1647

Rembrandt is one of the most famous painters of the Dutch Golden Age of the 17th century, and is widely recognised as one of the greatest painters in Dutch history.

This work is one of only nine oil landscape paintings painted by Rembrandt. It depicts the story of Joseph's family fleeing to Egypt to avoid the pursuit of Herod.

The characters only occupy a small part of the composition. The gloomy and cold colours of the forest and cliffs are in sharp contrast with the bright and warm tones of the campfire.

In the picture, we can see that Mary is holding the baby in her arms and she holds out a spoon of food for him, while Joseph prepares the fire for dinner. Beside them we can also see the animal that helped them carry their belongings.

The warm and bright bonfire represents their hope of escaping to a safe place in the future.

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《在逃往埃及途中安息的神圣家庭​》伦勃朗

伦勃朗，荷兰艺术家 巴洛克画家的代表，17世纪荷兰黄金时代最著名的画家之一，也是荷兰历史上最伟大的画家之一​

这幅作品是伦勃朗所画的九幅油画风景绘画中的其中一副。​

本作品于1647年所做描绘的是约瑟夫一家为了躲避希律王的追捕，逃往埃及的故事。​

绘画的构图以夜幕中的风景为主。人物只占微小的部分。森林及悬崖下阴森凄冷的色彩和篝火的明亮和温暖的色调形成了鲜明的对比​

画中玛丽亚耶稣的母亲怀抱襁褓中幼小的耶稣 用勺子在给他喂食而耶稣的父亲约瑟夫生火准备晚餐取暖。同时在他们身旁我们还可以看到帮他们搬运行李的牲畜。​

温暖明亮的篝火代表了他们未来逃逸路上的希望。

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Cubist-style painting of a pierrot by Juan Gris
Juan Gris (1887-1927), Pierrot, 1921. Image, National Gallery of IrelandCredit

Room 5

Juan Gris (1887-1927), Pierrot, 1921

Juan Gris was a Spanish painter and sculptor. ​He came to Paris in 1906. His work was influenced by Picasso and Braque's Cubist style. ​

Cubism follows the approach of fragmentation, analysis and recombination and rejects the theory that art should imitate nature. ​In this work, Juan Gris uses the Cubist method of expression to draw a pantomime Pierrot actor wearing a white dress, a white hat and white face paint. ​

In the painting, the Pierrot actor sits quietly at the coffee table. Resting on the table are papers similar to music scores and newspapers, as well as musical instruments and a glass. The sombre planes of colour give the composition a collage-like appearance.

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《皮埃罗》格里斯

胡安.格里斯是一名西班牙画家及雕塑家。​他1906年来到了巴黎。因受毕加索以及布拉克三维立体的影响， 他成为了一位立体主义画家。​

立体主义追随碎裂，解析，重新组合的方式 并拒绝艺术该模拟自然的理论。​在这幅画作中胡安格里斯用立体主义的表现方法画出了一个穿着白衣 带着白色帽子 并把脸也涂成白色的哑剧皮埃罗演员。​

这位皮埃罗演员在画面中安静的坐在咖啡桌旁休息。桌子上摆放着类似乐谱和报纸的纸张，以及类似小号的乐器和一个玻璃杯。用原始朴实而阴沉的色彩完成了拼贴画的效果。​

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Cubist still life painting of a mandolin, bottle, and other objects on a table
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Still Life with a Mandolin, 1924. © Succession Picasso/DACS, London 2020Credit

Room 5

Pablo Picasso (1881-1973), Still Life with a Mandolin, 1924

Pablo Picasso was born in Malaga, Spain in 1881. He is one of the founders of Cubism, which depicted three-dimensional objects on a flat surface, from multiple angles. ​

This work is the second painting in a series of large-scale Cubist still-life paintings that Picasso created during his holiday in the village of Juan-les-Pins on the Côte d'Azur in 1924. ​ The black lines in front of the exotic red tablecloth represent the waves along the coast. ​

The work depicts a fruit dish, wine bottle, and mandolin resting on a table at night. The touch of yellow in the corner shows that these items were lit strongly, as if by an artificial source, creating a dramatic contrast.​The large areas of black and blue background combined with the shadows of trees imply that the artist might be facing the sea with his back to the woods, relaxing and enjoying the summer night breeze on the beach.

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《静物与曼陀林琴》​毕加索

毕加索1881年生于西班牙马拉加 他是三维立体主义绘画创始人之一。​立体主义绘画形式是从多个角度描绘了2D表面上的3D物品。

本幅作品是1924年毕加索在法国尼斯蔚蓝海岸度假时创作的一系列大型立体主义静物画中的第二幅。​异域风情的红色桌布前面的黑线反映了沿海的海浪。

作品描述了夜幕下，一个水果盘放着夏季水果，一瓶酒和一把曼陀林琴放在桌子上，角落的那一抹黄色强烈的体现出整组静物被人工光源照亮并形成鲜明的对比。​

背景大面积的黑蓝的色调及绿色的树影呈现了作者在夜幕降临的海边面朝大海背对树林轻松愉快的享受着夏日海风。

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Eva Gonzalès (1849-1883), 'Children on the Sand Dunes, Grandcamp', 1877-1878. © National Gallery of Ireland.
Eva Gonzalès (1849-1883), 'Children on the Sand Dunes, Grandcamp', 1877-1878. © National Gallery of Ireland.Credit

Room 4

Eva Gonzalès (1849-1883), Children on the Sand Dunes, Grandcamp, 1877-8

Eva Gonzalès was born in Paris, France in 1849. She was an Impressionist painter. 

She combines casual brushwork with soft colours in her work to create a balanced painting with alluring harmony.​

Gonzalès met Edouard Manet in 1869 and became his only formal pupil. Her loose brushwork shows the influence of his teaching. ​​

This work is an oil painting on canvas created by Gonzalès in 1877. She painted this scene in the seaside resort of Grandcamp in Normandy. Two local children rest and play on the coast while a basket of fish lay beside them. ​

In the foreground of the painting is we can see sand and marram grass on the shore, while a light blue coastline marks the high horizon. The line distinguishes the coast and blends into the sky with a sense of beauty and perfection.

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《沙丘上的儿童​》冈萨雷斯

伊娃.冈萨雷斯 1849年 出生于法国巴黎是一位印象派女画家。​

她的画作具有独特的特征和技巧，即使用休闲的笔法和柔和的色彩来创造出完整而平衡的画作，并保持和谐。

冈萨雷斯与爱德华马奈相识于1869年，并成为了他唯一的正式学生。她那松散的粗略笔法显示了他的教学影响。​

“沙丘上的儿童”这幅作品是冈萨雷斯1877年在画布上创作的油画作品。冈萨雷斯在诺曼底的海滨度假胜地画下了这一场景。她描绘了当地的两个小孩子在海岸小路边休息玩耍的场景。一篮子鱼躺在他们的旁边。​

这幅画的构图由岸边的沙子和蒿草组成, 而一条淡蓝色的海岸线标志着高地平线。区分了海岸和水平线并将其完美的融合在一起。

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Impressionistic landscape painting of a river, trees on the riverbank, buildings on the horizon and a white sailboat.
Claude Monet (1840–1926), Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sailboat, 1874. Image, National Gallery of Ireland.Credit

Room 3

Claude Monet (1840-1926), Argenteuil Basin with a Single Sailboat, 1874

Claude Monet is one of the most famous French painters in history and one of the founding members of the Impressionist art movement.

He was interested in experimenting with techniques and ways of expressing light and shadow. He focused on shadow rather than outline. Between 1871 and 1978, he lived in Argenteuil, a town on the banks of the Seine, in the outskirts of Paris.

This work is part of the "Argenteuil Basin" series. During this period, Monet often explored the Seine River, painting the river and its banks from a small boat which he had transformed into a mobile studio.

This painting depicts the layers of changing clouds in the autumn sky, the golden leaves on the shore, the sailing boats on the Seine and the ripples on the water. There are no rigid outlines in this painting. The colour scheme is quiet and beautiful; however, the blue and white strokes jumping in the foreground adds vitality to the whole work.

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《阿让伊特盆地塞纳河上的帆船》​莫奈

莫奈法国著名画家，印象派代表人物及创始人之一。

莫奈擅长光与影的实验与表现技法。绘画风格改变了阴影及轮廓线的画法，他专注于阴影而不是轮廓。

1871年至78年间，莫奈居住在巴黎郊区的阿让特伊流域，本幅作品是「阿让伊特盆地」系列作品之一。在此期间，他常常乘坐小船游览塞纳河，将小船变成了成流动工作室，绘制了许多塞纳河及其河岸的景色。​

画作描绘了秋日天空变换的云层、岸边金黄的树叶、塞纳河上滑行的帆船和水面的层层涟漪。​

在其画中没有明确的阴影也无凸显或生硬的外部的轮廓线条。​整幅作品色彩恬静画面唯美，但是最前方跳跃的蓝色和白色为整个作品添加了勃勃生气。

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