Russborough House

Russborough House is near the Blessington Lakes in County Wicklow located mansion from the 18th century, having the longest facade of Ireland with 210 meters.

The now publicly accessible building was built by Richard Cassels in the Palladian style for the first Earl of Milltown. Today's interior design and art collection presented here come mainly from the last occupants, Sir Alfred Lane Beit and Lady Clementine Beit.

History

Russborough House was built in 1741-1751 for Joseph Leeson. The son of a wealthy brewer and Member of the Irish Parliament in Dublin became the first Earl of Milltown later. Apart from a brief occupation by the British Army in 1800, the house was about six generations of the Milltown family. After the death of the last, childless Count furnishings and art collection of milltowns went almost completely to the National Gallery of Ireland, where they are being presented today at the Milltown Wing.

1915 inherited Sir Edmund Turton, a nephew of the last Earl of Milltown the estate. 16 years later his family Russborough House sold for £ 9000 to Denis and MAEB Daly, who lived there until the early 1950s with her daughters and up to 18 employees.

Sir Alfred Lane Beit and Lady Clementine Beit became aware through a sale ad in Country Life magazine on Russborough House. They acquired the property in 1952, as their previous residence in London not enough provided space for their extensive art and antique collection. The couple belonged to the European " High Society " and used friendships with famous people such as Jacky Kennedy and Rex Harrison. Sir Alfred Lane Beit was a member of the British Parliament and worked among other things as a photographer and pilot.

Significant parts of the art collection come from the possession of the uncle of Alfred Lane Beit, who was also named Alfred Beit. By diamond mines in South Africa, he had become one of the richest men in Europe.

Back in 1978, opened the house for tours the Beit. Died in 1994 Sir Alfred Lane Beit at the age of 91 years. Since the death of Lady Clementine Beit in 2005, the Alfred Beit Foundation for Russborough House is responsible.

The exhibition

The exhibition is divided into two parts. On the ground floor and the first floor, the original establishment of the Beit be seen. The couple collected alongside paintings and sculptures and historical furniture, household items and carpets. The exhibits include Chinese vases from the 17th century, the bed of Sir Richard Arkwright ( inventor of the spinning jenny ) and a microscope that Marie Antoinette was probably given by the residents of Parma to the wedding. The oldest object is a stone statue of Mary Magdalene from Burgundy in the 16th century.

In addition, part of the extensive art collection in the Beit family to see. This includes two landscape paintings by Thomas Gainsborough, an animal presentation by Jean -Baptiste Oudry and the custom-built four of Claude Joseph Vernet for Russborough House Oil Painting " morning ", " noon ", " evening " and "night".

2011 opened a new exhibition in the basement, which is dedicated to the life of the Beit. In addition to three-dimensional black and white photographs from the 20s and 30 years, cinematic travel documentaries and an extensive music collection visits of famous personalities such as Jackie Kennedy and Mick Jagger are documented.

Theft and fire

Since the 1970s there has been a total of 4 Art thefts in Russia Borough. 1974 stole a splinter group of the IRA 16 paintings - including works by Vermeer and Goya - worth several million Irish pounds. 1986 broke Martin Cahill, also the "General" called in Russia a Borough. 2001 and 2002 stole the former accomplice Cahill, Martin Foley several artworks, including Rubens ' " Portrait of a Dominican Monk".

With one exception, all the works were rediscovered in the course of several years. However, the most valuable pieces since the late 1980s because of safety concerns hang in the National Gallery of Ireland. In the so-called Beit Wing are as Gainsborough's " Madame Bacelli " neck " ," lute player ", Goya 's " Dona Antonia Zarate " and Vermeer 's " letter writer and servant " to see.

Broke on 7 February 2010 at the West Wing, a fire and destroyed, among other things, the entire roof of the wing. Due to the then just held renovations neither art nor furniture were in the wing. 2012, the portion of the building to be completely renovated and are provided as guests accommodation available.