Early last year, one of this country's most extraordinary public collections moved from a suburb in the capital to the centre of Dublin Castle. Among the reasons for this transfer was the wish to encourage greater visitor numbers because, despite its remarkable riches, the Chester Beatty Library had never drawn large crowds. Presumably the publication of a new general introduction to the wide range of objects held by the institution is intended to continue the same process. In the past, the library has produced a number of volumes examining specific areas of the collection, but these were aimed primarily at the academic scholar. This work, on the other hand, has been designed for the general reader and provides a guide to the library and its diverse elements.
Perversely, that diversity has always been one of the Chester Beatty's greatest drawbacks when attempting to appeal to the general public. The eponymous Sir Alfred Chester Beatty was a man whose curiosity seems to have been as great as his wealth. As a result, he bought widely and wisely across a broad spectrum of areas including Turkish and Persian miniatures, European mediaeval manuscripts, Japanese scrolls and Chinese dragon robes, all of which are abundantly represented in the library he left to this state. There are, for example, some 2,700 Islamic manuscripts in the collection, along with over 3,000 rare printed books and more than 33,000 Old Master prints and drawings. The library contains important documentation on all major religions.
Sensibly, the new book eschews representing quantity in favour of quality, opting to highlight some of the most important - and photogenic - items owned by the library. Each piece chosen is illustrated in colour and with accompanying explanatory text, while the different principal areas of interest received their own succinct introductions. Without doubt, therefore, the publication should serve to increase visitor numbers to the point where they resemble more closely the number of objects in the library.
One small gripe: although the Chester Beatty Library is an Irish institution, the guide is priced in sterling and therefore will be liable to currency fluctuations.
Robert O'Byrne is an Irish Times journalist