Hugh Lane Exhibition

In today's Irish Times, Aidan Dunne reports on the new exhibition at the Hugh Lane Dublin City Gallery, which revisits the famous 1908 exhibition. The Hugh Lane bequest prompted Yeats's poem 'September 1913', known to generations of English pupils in Ireland through its appearance in the book Soundings, and still being studied (in rotation) on the new Leaving Certificate course.

In the words of the Gallery's website:

The gallery is hugely significant in the history of the State not only because of its renowned and international collection of art, but also in its association with twentieth century literature in particular the Nobel Laureate William Butler Yeats.

W.B.Yeats recalls the controversy, disappointments and eventual joy in the permanent location of the collection in Charlemont House, in a number of poems including the wonderfully titled 'To A Wealthy Man Who Promised A Second Subscription To The Dublin Municipal Gallery If It Were Proved The People Wanted Pictures', 'September 1913' and the poignant 'The Municipal Gallery Revisited.'