News Archive
Members’ Book Club
(in association with The Company of Books)
We are delighted to announce an exciting new feature of the membership programme. Over the coming months we will choose a number of interesting titles which will complement themes and items from the Chester Beatty Library collection. We would also welcome recommendations from Members.
Each book is available for purchase in the Chester Beatty Library gift shop and in The Company of Books, Ranelagh – Members will receive a 10% discount on purchases.
Conservation of Japanese Scrolls
Supported by The Sumitomo Foundation
The Chester Beatty Library is delighted to announce a grant from The Sumitomo Foundation, Tokyo, to conserve one of the most important Japanese hand scrolls in the Library’s collections – an early 17th-century version of The Tale of the Bamboo-Cutter in a set of two picture scrolls. For more information please click here.
New short film:
The Cry of Pamoun, the Ox: A lament across the centuries
The Library has created a short film to highlight an ancient song on the suffering of animals. Composed originally around A.D. 300 by Thom, a lyricist and follower of the Manichaean religion, the Chester Beatty copy of this song dates to around A.D.400 and is part of the largest book to survive from the ancient world, the Manichaean Psalm book. Thom’s song brings us face to face with the suffering of the ox from the ox’s point of view. The cry of ‘What have the generations done to me?’ should still be heard today. The film can be viewed on an interactive kiosk at the Library.
New Acquisition
The Library is delighted to announce that it has successfully re-acquired two important illuminated miniatures from a French Book of Hours which were sold in 1969 under the terms of Chester Beatty’s Will. The miniatures are very rare examples of French art from the time of the Duc de Berry and are exactly dated 1408 with an added inscription recording the fact that the three main bridges of Paris were washed away in a severe flood that year. The miniatures are thought to be by one of the most important illuminators of the time, the Boucicaut Master or his close associate the Maazarine Master. The miniatures were highly regarded by Chester Beatty and were only sold after his death to meet special bequests for close friends. The miniatures were purchased at public auction in London in July 2010.
Recent Publication
Islam: Faith, Art, Culture
Dr Elaine Wright, Curator of the Islamic Collections at the Library presents an authoritative introduction to the Islamic religion, covering both orthodox faith and popular piety, including the historical context of the divine revelation to the Prophet Muhammad, the contents of the Qur'an, Islamic calligraphy, the practice of the faith, the many prophets and other figures revered by Muslims, and Islamic mysticism. The reader is introduced to these aspects of the faith through the rich heritage of the Islamic book, and as such this volume presents a feast of matchless illustration and illumination, including magnificent examples of calligraphy, the art most highly revered in Islam.
The manuscripts (hand-written books) chosen to illustrate the text span the period from the 9th century to the early 20th although most were produced between about the thirteenth and sixteenth centuries. They derive primarily from the Arab world, Turkey, Iran and India, but also include examples from Spain, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan and China.
The manuscripts, and the concepts they deal with, are as relevant today as they were when they were produced, and as such they serve as ideal illustrations for this general introduction to Islam.
Price €27.00, on sale in the Library's shop.
Further information on Table of Contents and Chapter Excerpts can be found here.
For further information on the Library's Islamic Collections, please click here.
For news of future temporary exhibitions at the Library, please click here.
Library Appoints New Director
12 Jan 2011 - The Chairman and Trustees of the Chester Beatty Library, Dublin, today announced the appointment of Ms Fionnuala Croke as Director of the Library. The appointment follows an international search for a Director to succeed Dr Michael Ryan who retired from the post at the end of December.
Ms Croke, who has been Keeper and Head of Collections at the National Gallery of Ireland since 2008, will take up her position at the Library on 1 March. She joined the Gallery as a research fellow in 1987 and has held several key positions there including Senior Curator and Head of Exhibitions. She has had overall responsibility for managing the Gallery’s permanent collection and exhibitions and has been centrally involved in the redevelopment of the Gallery.
From Churchtown in Dublin, Ms Croke has published widely on a wide range of art-related subjects and is an internationally respected museum professional. She received a BA with honours in History of Art & Archaeology from UCD. She was awarded an MA from UCD and an MBA from the Smurfit Business School. She has also attended the prestigious Getty Museum Leadership Institute in Los Angeles. On being offered the role, Ms Croke commented: “While I have hugely enjoyed my time at the National Gallery, I am delighted to take up this position as Director of the Chester Beatty Library. With its magnificent collections the Library is truly a jewel in the heart of Dublin. It has gone from strength to strength since its move to Dublin Castle, and I consider this appointment a great opportunity to build on the tremendous work of Dr Michael Ryan and his team.’
Welcoming the appointment, the Chairman of the Chester Beatty Library, Dr TP Hardiman, said: “We are very happy to welcome Fionnuala as the new Director of the Library. She has a wealth of achievement in museum management and development as well as curatorial expertise of international standing. The Library is fortunate to have such an eminently qualified and experienced museum professional take over as Director as we consolidate ten successful years at Dublin Castle and plan for the next stage of our development in a challenging environment”.