Art Historian Dr Matthew Whyte offers a new lecture series, which takes the audience on an art-filled journey through the often beautiful, sometimes scandalous, and always fascinating moments in the development of Western civilisation.

The lectures can be attended as a series, but are also designed as standalone talks, which can be attended individually.

Dr Whyte has lectured in Art History in University College Cork since 2014, where he completed his PhD in the art and culture of Renaissance Italy.

Week 5: The National Collection in Cork’s Crawford Art Gallery

This lecture focuses on the Irish National Collection at Crawford Art Gallery, exploring its rich history through a close examination of the gallery’s sculpture collection and the pivotal role played by historic bequests and donations in shaping its growth. By tracing how key works entered the collection, the lecture will reveal the networks of artists, patrons, and institutions that contributed to the development of one of Ireland’s most important public art holdings. With the Crawford currently closed for Capital Redevelopment, this talk offers a timely opportunity to revisit familiar works and uncover new and lesser-known aspects of their histories, from their original contexts to their journeys into the national collection. It invites audiences to reconnect with the collection in fresh ways while reflecting on its enduring cultural significance.

1. Tues 20 Jan
Monastic Ireland

2. Tues 27 Jan
Ireland and the Academy

3. Tues 3 Feb
Irish Art in the Age of Enlightenment

4. Tues 10 Feb
Irish Artists Abroad

5. Tues 17 Feb
The National Collection in Cork’s Crawford Art Gallery

6. Tues 24 Feb
Irish Contemporary Art