Homecoming: Walter Osborne's Portraits of Dublin, 1880-1900

In conjunction with
the first monographic exhibition of this Irish artist in forty years-and the
first ever in the United States-this catalogue charts Walter Osborne's career
from his student days in Dublin to his mature works made following his return to
his native city in 1892. Through his depictions of Dublin's streets, parks,
public spaces, domestic interiors and gardens, countryside, and most
importantly its people, a vision of a vibrant-if divided-Ireland emerges.

Osborne's experiences
abroad during his formative years, his professional and social networks, and
his commercial acumen help establish Dublin's unique brand of Modern painting
rife with the possibility of change. Osborne's notable painting, At the Breakfast
Table (1894), with its focus on family and home, launches an exploration of the
other iconic works produced at the height of his career, including St.
Patrick's Close, St. Stephen's Green, and his portraits of famous personalities
and children.