asked the Minister for Education whether there is at present available at the National Gallery an informative catalogue of the Gallery's possessions for sale to visitors; the date on which such catalogue was last published; and whether a new catalogue is at present in preparation.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - National Gallery Catalogue.
27.
The following catalogues are on sale at the National Gallery of Ireland:—
(a) Catalogue of Oil Pictures in the General Collection—printed in 1932.
(b) A Catalogue of the Chester Beatty Collection—issued in 1950 (reprinted in 1962).
(c) Illustrations of the Paintings— published in 1951.
(d) Catalogue of Pictures of the Italian school—published in 1956.
A new summary catalogue of all the oil paintings in the National Gallery has been compiled and is in course of printing.
May I ask the Minister, further to his reply, is there, in fact, in existence any catalogue of all the paintings in the National Gallery because, so far as I know, no living creature knows what is in the National Gallery and there has never been a catalogue?
A summary catalogue is being compiled. I understand that this problem of total cataloguing is not peculiar to our Gallery. Most galleries have had difficulties about cataloguing. A summary catalogue is being compiled.
Is the Minister aware that at this moment there is not in existence anywhere a list setting out what is in the National Gallery, that nobody knows, and that there never has been an ordinary list made, "Picture of a Lady", "Picture of a Flowerpot", "Picture of a Rural Scene", and that there is a large number of pictures in the Gallery of the existence of which nobody knows? May I urge on the Minister's attention that, if that is so, there ought to be available to Oireachtas Éireann, that is supposed to hold this valuable property on behalf of the people, if not a catalogue, a complete inventory of what is in the National Gallery?
There would be a rush of art thieves as a result of the statement.
This is a serious matter. I have raised this matter repeatedly at the Committee of Public Accounts when I was a member. It is now raised specifically. I think the House will be shocked to learn that there is not in existence an inventory of the contents of the National Gallery. May I suggest to the Minister that it is a matter requiring his urgent attention?
Could I draw the Deputy's attention to what I said? A summary catalogue which includes all the paintings on exhibition and in storage, that is, about 1,800, is prepared and is printed and is being corrected and proofed. It is not ready for publication at the moment but it has been done.
Have you seen it?
The person who is capable of dealing with it has. I do not think I would be capable of dealing with the proofs of a gallery catalogue.
I am gratified to hear that that is being done. It certainly was not being done when I last inquired about it at the Public Accounts Committee.
Is the Minister aware that storage facilities are not adequate, that the pictures are piled up higgledy-piggledy?
The question of accommodation is being dealt with.
It is correct to say that the storage facilities are inadequate. I should like the Minister to look into this matter.
We have already taken up the question of suitable accommodation.