National Gallery

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  • Address
    West Merrion Sq, Southside
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  • Phone
    661 5133
  • Website
  • Transport
    train: Pearse
bus: 5, 7, 7a, 10, 13a, 44c, 48a

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Lonely Planet review

A stunning Caravaggio and a whole room full of Ireland's pre-eminent artist, Jack B Yeats, are just a couple of stand-out highlights from this fine collection, amassed by the state since 1854. Its original collection has grown, mainly through bequests, to around 12,500 artworks, including oils, watercolours, drawings, paints and sculptures.

One of the museum's major benefactors was George Bernard Shaw, and the Shaw Room in the Dargan Wing is lined with full-length portraits and spectacular Waterford-crystal chandeliers.

Upstairs, the highlight is undoubtedly Caravaggio's The Taking of Christ , which lay undiscovered for over 60 years in a Jesuit house in Leeson St until it was found accidentally by the museum's curator in 1992.