An exhibition of stained-glass panels created by artist Harry Clarke has opened in Collins Barracks in Dublin.
The National Museum of Ireland said the exhibition will include some of his earliest works.
The 20th Century artist is regarded as one of the most renowned stained-glass artists of his time.
Clarke was born in Dublin in 1889 and died in 1931.
His works include The Consecration of St Mel, Bishop of Longford, by St Patrick (1910), The Godhead Enthroned (1911), The Meeting of St Brendan with the Unhappy Judas (1911) and Richard Mulcahy (1925).
Clarke’s stained-glass windows are found in 16 counties, mostly in churches, across Ireland.
The exhibition is part of a collaboration between the National Museum and Crawford Art Gallery in Cork.
Three of the panels are on loan from Crawford Art Gallery, as it is closed to the public for redevelopment works.
Director of the National Museum of Ireland (NMI) Lynn Scarff said: “Over the period of its closure to enable the important and transformative redevelopment project, this exhibition will ensure that everyone can continue to access the exquisite Harry Clarke-Stained Glass panels that have been on display in the Crawford.
“Bringing them together with the glass from our own collection will give visitors a special opportunity to see these six panels together in one exhibition.”
Read more: How Harry Clarke became one of Ireland’s best loved artists
A Meeting was commissioned in 1918 by Jane French, who was a great supporter of Clarke’s work.
“She hung this [panel] in her bathroom in her home in Dublin,” said NMI curator Dr Siobhan Doyle.
“It only took him a couple of a couple of days to make this piece, which is incredible when you see the detail in it. It is named after a 19th century ballad by a man called Heinrich Heine, and it tells the story of a mermaid and a merman, and they are dancing at the water’s edge, and you can see different couples in the background dancing as well.
“There is incredible skill and the use of colours, particularly this cobalt blue, is so rich and a fantastic example of Harry Clarke’s work”, she said.
The Crawford gallery has urged the public to take advantage of the opportunity to view the stunning collection.
“It’s a real treat for visitors, and if you can come, you should,” said Dr Michael Waldron of the Crawford Gallery.
“It really showcases Harry Clarke’s evolution as an artist in that first decade of this career.”
