Russborough House - Art Collections

Art Collections

Russborough has housed two fine art collections, begun with the Milltown estate, whose collection was donated to the National Gallery of Ireland upon the death of the last Earl. Sir Alfred Beit bought the house in 1952 where he housed his own family's collection, comprising works by many great artists, including Goya, Vermeer, Peter Paul Rubens and Thomas Gainsborough. This collection was since robbed four times, in 1974 by an IRA gang including British heiress Rose Dugdale, in 1986 by Martin Cahill (nicknamed "The General"), in 2001, and in 2002 by Martin Cahill's old associate Martin Foley . Two paintings, Gainsborough's Madame Bacelli and Vermeer's Lady writing a Letter with her Maid, the latter probably the most valuable painting of the collection, were stolen twice across the thefts, although each was subsequently recovered. The Beit collection has donated many of its works to the state and the house remains open to the public, having been opened by the Alfred Beit Foundation in 1978.

A substantial proportion of the paintings have been returned to Russborough House and are now on view to those taking a tour of the house.

Amongst the paintings returned are four Claude Joseph Vernet paintings entitled ‘Morning’ ‘Midday’ ‘Sunset’ and ‘Night’. These paintings were actually painted for Russborough in the 1750s and had remained in the house for most of the last 260 years. Vermeer's Lady Writing a Letter With Her Maid and Goya's Portrait of Dona Antonia Zarate were recovered in 1993.

In recent years locally advertised Farmers Markets have been held on a regular basis in the grounds of the house.