10 April 2025

Tickets

A special study day to mark the Return of Murillo’s Prodigal Son Series to Russborough.

To celebrate the unique history of Russborough, on the occasion of the ‘return home’ of the Prodigal Son series by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617 – 1682), this study day explores the interplay among houses, collections, and collectors, in a cross-disciplinary attempt to celebrate the richness and diversity of Irish and British country houses.

Programme

  • 09:45-10:15 Registration – Tea/Coffee
  • 10:15-10:30 Welcome & Intro
  • 10:30-11:10 John Goodall (Country Life) – Keynote speech
  • 11:10-11:20 Discussion

Session 1: The Architecture of Display
Chair: Mary Heffernan (Office of Public Works)

  • 11:20-11:40 Alec Cobbe (Alec Cobbe Design) Inside Matters
  • 11:40-12:00 Frances Bailey (National Trust NI) Bringing Mount Stewart Back to Life
  • 12:00-12:20 James Rothwell (FSA, National Trust) Restoring Baroque Pomp and Circumstance: The Beauty Room at Petworth, Sussex
  • 12:20-12:30 Discussion

12:30-13:30 LUNCH & Free Flow Tour of Murillo Display

Session 2: Sources for Studying Collecting & Display
Chair: Dr Audrey Whitty (National Library of Ireland)

  • 13:30-13:50 David Sheehan (Castletown Foundation) Castletown: ‘The Epitome of the Kingdom, and All the Rarities She Can Afford’
  • 13:50-14:10 Prof Adrian Tinniswood (University of Buckingham) A Madness to Gaze at Trifles
  • 14:10-14:30 Dr Seán O’Reilly (Institute of Historic Building Conservation) Sociological and Psychological, Artistic and Architectural Aspects of Country House Display and Prospective Impacts for Management
  • 14:30-14:40 Discussion

14:40-15:00 Comfort Break & Free Flow Tour of Murillo Display

Session 3: Russborough, The Beits, Murillo’s Return of the Prodigal Son
Chair: Fionnuala Croke (Chester Beatty Library)

  • 15:00-15:20: Dr Aidan O’Boyle (Office of Public Works) The Reconstruction of an Eighteenth-Century Picture-hang at Russborough
  • 15:20-15:40 Prof John Hilary (University of Nottingham) The Beit Collection: Murillo’s Prodigal Son Series in Context
  • 15:40-16:00 Leah Benson and Muirne Lydon (National Gallery of Ireland) From Russborough to the National Gallery: The Beit Gift and the Conservation of Murillo’s Prodigal Son Series
  • 16:00-16:20 Discussion & Closing Remarks

16:20 – 17:30 Drinks reception

Download the Full Programme here.

Tickets €60 – includes lunch & refreshments.