Updated February 2025--Tourists visiting Dublin for a couple of days won’t want to miss the range of exciting new exhibitions at The National Gallery of Ireland this year.
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Here’s a closer look at what's on.
Ludovico Mazzolino: The Crossing of the Red Sea
This exhibition celebrates the conservation and redisplay of this rarely seen work, which was completed by Renaissance painter Ludovico Mazzolino in 1521.
The panel, painted in vibrant, multi-colored tones, depicts Moses and the Israelites reaching safety as the waters engulf Pharaoh's army.
It was first purchased by the Gallery in 1914 and had not been seen for decades due to cracking paint and structural instability.
It recently underwent extensive scientific analysis and conservation and is now on display until July 6th for all to enjoy.
Admission: Free.
Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone: The Art of Friendship
The work of pioneering Irish modernists Mainie Jellett and Evie Hone will be on display at the gallery from April 10th through Aug. 10th.
The exhibit of 90 pieces, including paintings, stained glass, and preparatory drawings, will explore their friendship and shared experiences while studying in Paris during the early 1920s, as well as tracing their careers back to Ireland.
While both women were trailblazers in Irish art, their work often focused on conventional themes like religion and landscape.
Admission: From €5.
An Artist's Presence
This exhibition explores how artists, consciously or unconsciously, place themselves in their work as illustrated through drawings and paintings from the gallery’s permanent collection.
It includes the work of artists from the 18th through 21st centuries, including William Orpen, Elisabeth Vigée-Le Brun, James Barry, Flora Mitchell, Seán Keating, and Nancy Lee Katz.
Self-portraits, depictions of artists in the act of making, and works that emphasize the stylistic signature of their creator are just some of the aspects of this exciting new exhibition to open on May 17th.
It will remain up until Sept. 14th.
Admission: Free.
Maurice Marinot – On Paper, In Glass
This exhibition showcases a selection of works by Maurice Marinot, who was known for infusing the intense colors of his early paintings into stunning glass objects.
They included vases, flagons, bowls, and paperweights, earning him the title, “Le Fauve de Verre” (The Wild Beast of Glass).
Never before shown at the National Gallery, the exhibition also includes a range of drawings and glass designs, all revealing Marinot's pioneering contribution to the world of glass.
The works on display, never before exhibited in the gallery, along with a range of drawings and glass designs, will reveal his pioneering contribution to the world of glass.
Admission: Free.
See Dublin's Attractions with the Go City Pass
The National Gallery of Ireland is among Dublin’s most popular free attractions.
It is located near Trinity College and Merrion Square.
It houses the nation’s collection of European and Irish art from about 1300 to the present day, in addition to an extensive library and archive.
Free guided tours are available at weekends. Family packs and drawing and creative writing kits are available to borrow for free.
Facilities include a shop, café, and wheelchair access to all levels of the gallery.