Art History Talk Series
- Nathaniel Hone: Nature and Construction

Guest Speaker Sarah McAuliffe

Considered by Hugh Lane to be Ireland’s greatest landscape painter, Nathaniel Hone (1831–1917) was a prolific artist whose wide-ranging travels and encounters with a variety of art movements in the 19th century not only fostered an accomplished artist, but brought visions of a world outside of Ireland that many living in the country at that time would otherwise not have the opportunity to witness.

Best known for his paintings of Irish landscapes and pastoral scenes, this talk will explore how Nathaniel Hone, a student of science and engineering, went on to become a significant figure in the history of Irish art and will trace the development of his interest in the natural world from his early days as an amateur painter in France to his depictions of the built environment in Ireland and abroad. Drawing on several works in the collection of the Butler Gallery and other Irish museums, this talk will provide insights into Hone’s unique style and process, in addition to the subjects that captivated him throughout his career.

About the Speaker

Sarah is the Curator of Irish Art Post 1900 at the National Gallery of Ireland, where she is responsible for the display, acquisition and interpretation of the National Gallery’s Irish collection, specifically as it relates to work produced during the 20^th century. Sarah’s research interests include the development of modernism in Ireland, photography, socially engaged art practices and the work of women artists. Between 2018 and 2021 she carried out a Curatorial Fellowship at the National Gallery. She holds a BA in History of Art and English and an MA in Modern and Contemporary Art History from University College Cork. Previously, Sarah was the Curator of the Royal Hibernian Academy of Arts. At the National Gallery, she has co-curated and curated a number of exhibitions including, Nathaniel Hone: Travels of a Landscape Artist (2019) Moment in Time: A Legacy of Photographs/ Works from the Bank of America Collection (2020), View of Ireland: Collecting Photography (2019/2020), and Picturing People (2021).

Kindly supported with funding from Night Time Economy grant under the Six after 6 programme.