Friends Fortnight 2026: Irish Artists on the River Loing with Jonathan Bennington

Irish Artists on the River Loing: Friendships and Experimentation, 1890-1932 

As part of Friends Fortnight 2026, Friends of the National Gallery of Ireland and the Education Department of the National Gallery of Ireland are delighted to present a talk by renowned art historian Jonathan Benington. 

The talk will focus on two friends: Roderic O’Conor and the unjustly overlooked Katherine McCausland, who made France their adopted home and evolved a Post-Impressionist approach, while continuing to visit and live in Grez beyond the turn of the century.

Using little-known paintings as well as pieces on show in the Gallery, Benington will examine the two Irish artists’ close friendship and their bonds with other residents of and visitors to the international colony. The talk will also include a virtual tour of Grez and its surrounds.