Madam, - Eoin Dillon's letter of February 24th might give the misleading impression that the Paul Henry Exhibition at the National Gallery consists of over 100 stereotypical West of Ireland landscapes. As someone who made a 160-mile round trip to see this exhibition, let me reassure your readers that nothing could be further from the truth.
The Millennium Wing of the gallery is, I believe, the ideal platform for this retrospective exhibition of the works of Paul Henry, who was, after all, the most influential Irish landscape painter of the 20th century.
Fewer than 40 per cent of the paintings on display are variations on the "standard" Western theme and even these display a remarkable diversity of style and composition, reflecting the changing moods of Henry's personal life. The exhibition also includes portraits, seascapes and some graphic work. A group in oils depicts such scenes as Grand Canal Docks, Ringsend, the Custom House, Kinsale, New Ross, Kilkenny and the eel-weirs at Athlone. I rest my case.
Congratulations to the National Gallery and to Dr S.B. Kennedy, who has curated this exhibition and produced a fine catalogue. Many of the pictures on display have come from private collections at home and abroad and some are being made available for public view for the first time in living memory.
To Mr Dillon I can only say: Don't take my word for it; go and see for yourself. - Yours, etc.,
GEARÓID O'BRIEN,
Beech Park,
Athlone,
Co Westmeath.