Over several decades the eminent art historian Desmond FitzGerald, Knight of Glin, assembled a collection of views of Ireland ranging in date from the mid-eighteenth century until today. In Painting Ireland a selection of these is catalogued and discussed in close readings, The interdisciplinary approach to the material crosses boundaries of art, architectural, social and local history. While there is a particular focus on depictions of the great houses of Ireland, there are also images of castles, townscapes, gardens and garden buildings, archaeological remains and interiors. The publication is the most in-depth catalogue yet attempted of an Irish private collection.
‘…this wonderful book – which should incidentally be purchased by every school in the State – is a serious, informed commentary… This is the way to teach Irish social history…. Never has the cautionary polemic of conservation and preservation been as elegantly presented with such balanced conviction, scholarship and stories of lives lived.’ (Eileen Battersby, Irish Times)
‘This quarto can induce salivation in bed.’ (John Harris, The Art Newspaper)
