Fresh from hosting the Labour Party's election press centre, the Royal Hibernian Academy opened its annual exhibition last night, and will be hoping the latest attraction at the Dublin gallery gets better reviews from the public.
The exhibition is now in its 172nd year, making it the longest-running, open-submission art show in the State. The 448 works on display this year are on sale, as usual, and as usual they range widely in price.
At €46,000, the most expensive piece is a large painting in acrylics by Pauline Bewick, entitled Puck Fair. But at the other end of the scale, two photographs by the upcoming Finnish photographer, Sonja Suoinen, are on offer for €350 each.
The academy also suggests there is good value in two "outstanding" paintings of women's shoes by John Brobbel, at €1,900 the pair. In fact, about 100 of the entries have already been sold on Saturday's "Varnishing Day".
This event is a preview for exhibitors, members and friends of the academy.
These include an installation by Liam Belton, which went for €25,000, and a series of five miniature paintings by Claire Kerr, which was bought at €1,000 and won the Fergus O'Ryan RHA Memorial Award. Just over half the entries this year were by open submission.
Exhibitors in this category include young painter David Gregory King, winner of the inaugural Hennessy Craig scholarship, worth €10,000, for artists under 35 who have completed their education on the island of Ireland.
His large scale painting, a seascape, is called Stephen (Dead Friend - Howth).
Most of the entries will be sold during the exhibition, according to the academy.
The show opens to the public today, and will continue until June 29th.
