Exhibitions

Aftermath: The War Landscapes of William Orpen

From 11 Nov 2017 to 11 Feb 2018

11 Nov-11 Feb. Dublin artist Garrett Phelan has been commissioned by the National Gallery of Ireland to produce artwork in response to William Orpen’s experience as official war artist for Britain in the Somme battlefields in 1917.

Titled I HAVE NO RIGHT TO BE SO NEAR, Phelan has created two new artworks, one in sound and the other made from clay acquired directly from the Somme.

Orpen (1878-1931) was born in Dublin but was based predominantly in London where he was an extremely popular society painter. Deeply affected by his experience as war artist in the Somme, Orpen produced 138 war paintings, which today hang in London's Imperial War Museum.

In 1918 the artist received the title of KBE (Order of the British Empire) in recognition of his work. He died in London in 1931, aged 52.

Mon-Sat 09.30-17.30 Thurs 09.30-20.30 Sun. 12.00-17.30