National Gallery of Ireland launches inspiring, major exhibition celebrating two women who pioneered modern art in Ireland

Exhibition poster with details of artworks and some text

  • Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship. includes over 90 examples of their work

  • First joint exhibition of Jellett and Hone since 1924

  • Open from 10 April – 10 August 2025

The National Gallery of Ireland has launched its latest exhibition – Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship, which is the first joint exhibition of the two artists since they showed together in Dublin in 1924. This exhibition is kindly supported by The Klesch Collection, Lead Sponsor; Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland and the Art of Friendship Giving Circle.

Opening 10th April, the exhibition offers visitors a chance to explore Jellett (1897–1944) and Hone’s (1894-1955) friendship and shared experiences while studying in Paris during the early 1920s, and follows their careers back to Ireland. The exhibition will include over 90 fascinating works by the two pioneering Irish modernists.

Jellett and Hone studied with the French Cubists André Lhote and Albert Gleizes in 1920s Paris and the south of France. The two remained close friends until Jellett’s death in 1944. Hone specialised in stained glass design but continued to paint, while Jellett allowed Cubist principles to inform her work, from abstract paintings to religious subjects to landscapes throughout her career.

The two artist’s work will be displayed side-by-side, providing the public with an opportunity to consider what connected these hugely gifted figures, but also what set them apart from one another, based upon the evidence of their art and of supporting scholarship.

Featuring paintings, stained glass, and preparatory drawings, the exhibition reveals how both women were pioneers in modern Irish art through traditional themes such as religion and landscape. 

Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, said: “It is very exciting to bring together Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone, marking the first joint exhibition of the two artists since 1924. Jellett and Hone remained lifelong friends and were equally influential in pioneering modern art in Ireland. Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship is not just a display of their work, it is an invitation to discover the power of friendship. My thanks to The Klesch Collection our Lead Sponsor, Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland and the Art of Friendship Giving Circle. We hope that this exhibition will delight visitors throughout the spring and summer.” 

Amparo Martinez-Russotto, Curator of The Klesch Collection, adds "We are delighted to support this landmark exhibition celebrating Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone—two artists who helped shape modern Irish art. Their bold innovation continues to inspire, this exhibition offers a unique opportunity to explore their legacy. At The Klesch Collection, we are committed to the principles of accessibility, preservation and scholarship of artistic treasures for generations to come, and are proud to collaborate in sharing the remarkable story of these two trailblazers, bringing their significant achievement to a wider audience."

The exhibition will showcase work by both artists of various forms and purpose – preparatory and schematic drawings, cartoons, paintings and glass panels – and in variety of media, including watercolour, gouache, oils and stained glass. 

Highlights of the exhibition include Evie Hone’s gouache cartoon for the East Window of Eton College Chapel. With its deep colours, the Crucifixion at the centre, and the Last Supper below, the finished window is considered by many to be one of the masterpieces of modern stained-glass art. Before her death in 1955, Hone became a stained-glass artist of the first rank. Already an established painter, she studied stained-glass design before joining An Túr Gloine (The Tower of Glass) in 1933—the stained-glass collective in central Dublin co-founded in 1903 by artist Sarah Purser.

Mainie Jellett’s Decoration (1923) is regarded as one of the most important paintings in the history and development of Irish art in the 20th century. It shows the external influences of Jellett’s training and involvement in European art. Though essentially abstract, the format, colour range and media of this work strongly recall early Renaissance depictions of the Madonna and Child. 

Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship will open to the public on 10 April 2025 and run until 10 August 2025.

Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland receive free unlimited entry to all exhibitions. Tickets are also free for children (18 and under), international protection applicants, refugees and carers. There is free entry for all to the exhibition on Wednesday mornings and tickets are €5 on Thursday evenings. 

This exhibition is kindly supported by The Klesch Collection as Lead Sponsor, Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland and the Art of Friendship Giving Circle.

The Gallery would like to thank the Department of Arts, Culture, Communications, Media and Sport for their ongoing support. 

ENDS

For Media Queries:

Erin Fox / Rachel Kilbane Drury 01 260 5000
[email protected]
087 122 5 485 (EF) / 083 339 8587 (RK) 

Notes to Editor:

  • Images of exhibition works can be found at the link: https://we.tl/t-BNDBfGRrDs
  • Dr Caroline Campbell, Director of the National Gallery of Ireland, is available for interview.
  • Dr Brendan Rooney, Head Curator, National Gallery of Ireland available for interview.
  • Niamh McNally, Curator of the Prints and Drawings Study Room, National Gallery of Ireland  

About the National Gallery of Ireland: 

The National Gallery of Ireland is one of the country’s most popular visitor attractions housing the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, and an extensive Library & Archive. Entry to the collection is free for all to enjoy, learn and be inspired. 

About The Klesch Collection:

The Klesch Collection is an important growing collection of museum-quality European paintings from the 16th and 17th centuries, assembled by A. Gary and Dr. Anita Klesch. The collection is dedicated to sharing its masterpieces with the wider public, and actively researches its paintings, producing books and videos to communicate its insights and discoveries with the public.

 

Mórthaispeántas spreagúil seolta ag Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ina ndéantar ceiliúradh ar bheirt bhan a bhí ceannródaíoch san ealaín nua-aimseartha in Éirinn

 

  • Áirítear breis is 90 sampla dá gcuid saothair sa taispeántas Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship.

  • Is é seo an chéad chomhthaispeántas de Jellett agus Hone ón mbliain 1924

  • Beidh an taispeántas ar siúl ón 10 Aibreán go dtí an 10 Lúnasa 2025

Tá an Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann tar éis a thaispeántas is déanaí a sheoladh – Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship arb é an chéad chomhthaispeántas den bheirt ealaíontóirí ó bhí taispeántas acu le chéile i mBaile Átha Cliath in 1924. Tá tacaíocht ghnaíúil faighte ag an taispeántas ó Bhailiúchán Klesch, An Príomh-Urraitheoir; Cairde Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus Ciorcal Fial The Art of Friendship.

Osclófar an taispeántas 10 Aibreán agus tabharfar deis do chuairteoirí iniúchadh a dhéanamh ar chairdeas agus ar eispéiris chomhroinnte Jellett (1897-1944) agus Hone (1894-1955) agus iad ag staidéar i bPáras ag tús na 1920idí, agus ar a ngairmeacha beatha tar éis dóibh filleadh ar Éirinn. Beidh os cionn 90 saothar tarraingteach leis an mbeirt nua-aoisithe ceannródaíocha Éireannacha mar chuid den taispeántas.

Bhí Jellett agus Hone i mbun staidéir le André Lhote agus Albert Gleizes, arbh ealaíontóirí Ciúbaíocha Francacha iad, sna 1920í i bPáras agus i ndeisceart na Fraince. Ba dhlúthchairde an bheirt go dtí go bhfuair Jellett bás in 1944. Cé go ndearna Hone speisialtóireacht i ndearadh gloine dhaite lean sí uirthi ag péinteáil, agus cheadaigh Jellett do phrionsabail Ciúbacha tionchar a bheith acu ar a cuid saothair, ó phictiúir theibí go hábhair reiligiúnacha go tírdhreacha le linn a gairme.  

Taispeánfar saothar na beirte ealaíontóirí taobh le taobh, rud a thabharfaidh deis don phobal machnamh a dhéanamh ar an gceangal a bhí ag na daoine thar a bheith cumasach seo, mar aon leis na difríochtaí móra a bhí eatarthu, bunaithe ar fhianaise a gcuid saothar ealaíne agus ar thacaíocht scoláireachta.

Le pictiúir, gloine dhaite agus líníochtaí ullmhúcháin mar chuid den taispeántas, léirítear an chaoi a raibh an bheirt bhan ina gceannródaithe in ealaín nua-aimseartha na hÉireann trí théamaí traidisiúnta ar nós reiligiúin agus tírdhreacha.  

Dúirt an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann: “Is iontach an rud é Mainie Jellett agus Evie Hone a thabhairt le chéile agus ceiliúradh a dhéanamh ar chéad chomhthaispeántas na beirte ealaíontóirí ó 1924. Bhí Jellett agus Hone ina gcairde ar feadh an tsaoil agus bhí an tionchar céanna acu ar an ealaín nua-aimseartha cheannródaíoch in Éirinn. Ní díreach taispeántas dá gcuid saothair amháin é Mainie Jellett agus Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship, is cuireadh é chun an chumhacht a bhaineann le cairdeas a fháil amach. Gabhaim mo bhuíochas le Bailiúchán Klesch, ár bPríomh-Urraitheoir, le Cairde Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus le Ciorcal Fial The Art of Friendship. Tá súil againn go gcuirfidh an taispeántas seo áthas ar chuairteoirí i rith an earraigh agus an tsamhraidh.” 

Dúirt Amparo Martinez-Russotto, Coimeádaí Bhailiúchán Klesch, "Tá an-áthas orainn tacú leis an taispeántas suntasach seo a dhéanann ceiliúradh ar Mainie Jellett agus Evie Hone — beirt ealaíontóirí a chuidigh le healaín nua-aimseartha na hÉireann a mhúnlú. Tá a nuálaíocht dhána fós ag spreagadh aos dána, agus leis an taispeántas seo, cuirtear deis uathúil ar fáil chun a n-oidhreacht a fhiosrú. I mBailiúchán Klesch, táimid tiomanta do phrionsabail na hinrochtaineachta, an chaomhnaithe agus an léinn ar sheoda ealaíne do na glúnta atá le teacht, agus táimid bródúil as bheith ag obair i gcomhar d’fhonn scéal iontach na beirt ceannródaíche seo a roinnt, rud a thugann ardán dá n-éachtaí suntasacha os comhair lucht spéise níos leithne.”

Tabharfar ardán leis an taispeántas do shaothair de chineálacha agus de chuspóirí éagsúla na beirte ealaíontóirí – líníochtaí ullmhúcháin agus scéimreacha, cartúin, pictiúir agus painéil ghloine – agus iad déanta i meáin éagsúla, lena n-áirítear uiscedhath, gouache, olaí agus gloine dhaite. 

I measc bhuaicphointí an taispeántais tá cartún gouache Evie Hone d’Fhuinneog Thoir Shéipéal Choláiste Eton. Leis na dathanna doimhne, céasadh Chríost ina lár, agus an Suipéar Deireanach in íochtar, measann go leor daoine go bhfuil an fhuinneog chríochnaithe seo ar cheann de shárshaothair na healaíne gloine dhaite nua-aimseartha. Sula bhfuair sí bás in 1955, bhí Hone ina healaíontóir gloine dhaite den chéad ghrád. Bhí sí ina péintéir seanbhunaithe cheana féin agus rinne sí staidéar ar dhearadh gloine dhaite sular thosaigh sí ag obair leis an Túr Gloine in 1933 — an comharghrúpa gloine dhaite i lár Bhaile Átha Cliath a chomhbhunaigh an t-ealaíontóir Sarah Purser in 1903. 

Meastar Decoration Mainie Jellett (1923) a bheith ar cheann de na pictiúir is tábhachtaí i stair agus i bhforbairt ealaín na hÉireann sa 20ú haois. Léiríonn sé na tionchair sheachtracha a bhí ag oiliúint Jellett agus a rannpháirtíocht in ealaín na hEorpa. Cé go bhfuil a cuid saothair teibí go bunúsach, tugann formáid, raon dathanna agus meáin na hoibre seo chun cuimhne go láidir léirithe luath-Athbheochana den Madonna and Child. 

Osclófar Mainie Jellett agus Evie Hone. The Art of Friendship don phobal ar an 10 Aibreán 2025 agus leanfaidh sé go dtí an 10 Lúnasa 2025.

Bíonn cead isteach saor in aisce gan teorainn ag Cairde Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann chuig gach taispeántas. Tá na ticéid saor in aisce freisin do leanaí (18 mbliana agus níos óige), d’iarratasóirí ar chosaint idirnáisiúnta, do dhídeanaithe agus do chúramóirí. Bíonn cead isteach saor in aisce ag an taispeántas ann do chách gach maidin Dé Céadaoin agus is €5 an costas ar thicéid tráthnóna Déardaoin. 

Faigheann an taispeántas seo tacaíocht ghnaíúil ó Bhailiúchán Klesch ina Phríomh-Urraitheoir, ó Chairde Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann agus ó Chiorcal Fial The Art of Friendship. 

Ba mhaith leis an nGailearaí buíochas a ghabháil leis an Roinn Ealaíon, Cultúir, Cumarsáide, Meán agus Spóirt as a dtacaíocht leanúnach. 

CRÍOCH

Ceisteanna ó na Meáin:

Erin Fox / Rachel Kilbane Drury 01 260 5000
[email protected]
087 122 5 485 (EF) / 083 339 8587 (RK) 

Nótaí don Eagarthóir:

  • Is féidir íomhánna de shaothair an taispeántais a fháil ar an nasc: https://we.tl/t-BNDBfGRrDs
  • Tá an Dr Caroline Campbell, Stiúrthóir Ghailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar fáil le haghaidh agallamh.
  • Tá an Dr Brendan Rooney, An Príomh-Choimeádaí, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar fáil le haghaidh agallamh.
  • Niamh McNally, Coimeádaí Sheomra Staidéir na bPriontaí agus na Líníochtaí, Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann  

Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann: 

Tá Gailearaí Náisiúnta na hÉireann ar cheann de na hionaid is mó sa tír a mheallann cuairteoirí agus is ann atá bailiúchán na tíre d’ealaín na hEorpa agus na hÉireann ó thart ar an mbliain 1300 go dtí an lá atá inniu ann, mar aon le Leabharlann agus Cartlann fhairsing. Tá cead isteach chuig an mbailiúchán saor in aisce do gach duine chun taitneamh a bhaint as, chun bheith ag foghlaim agus chun ábhar spreagtha a bhaint as. 

Bailiúchán Klesch: 

Bailiúchán tábhachtach atá ag dul i méid is ea Bailiúchán Klesch de phictiúir Eorpacha ar chaighdeán músaeim ón 16ú agus ón 17ú haois, arna gcur le chéile ag A. Gary agus an Dr Anita Klesch. Tá an bailiúchán tiomanta dá shárshaothair a roinnt leis an bpobal i gcoitinne, agus déantar taighde gníomhach ar a phictiúir faoina ndéantar leabhair agus físeáin a tháirgeadh chun a léargas agus a fhionnachtana a chur i láthair don phobal.