National Gallery acquires Jack B Yeats painting linked to Bloody Sunday 1920

The National Gallery of Ireland has acquired a painting by Jack B Yeats titled Singing The Dark Rosaleen, Croke Park, with financial support from the Government and a private donor. The painting is now on display in the gallery’s Irish rooms. This acquisition enhances the gallery’s representation of the renowned artist and offers a reflection on a significant moment in Irish history.

The painting, stolen in the 1990 Dunsany Castle art theft, was later returned to its owner and eventually sold to businessman Ben Dunne. In 2022, the painting was sold for about €1 million. Although not depicting the 1920 Bloody Sunday tragedy, the painting is closely associated with it, evoking the tragedy and its aftermath.

Described as one of Yeats’s few political works, the painting is a personal response to a pivotal moment in Irish history. It is considered an early example of the expressionist style for which Yeats is celebrated. The acquisition of this painting underscores the gallery’s dedication to preserving Ireland’s artistic and historical heritage for future generations to appreciate.

Gallery director Caroline Campbell expressed that this acquisition enriches the national collection and allows the remarkable legacy of Jack B Yeats to be shared with all visitors.