For over 40 years, Alec Cobbe has been a key figure in the understanding and presentation of historic painting collections and interiors. Born in Dublin in 1945, he began his career as a creative artist making paintings concerned with light and architectural spaces; he trained as a painting conservator and his artistic interests also led him towards the redecoration and arrangement of historic interiors. In doing so he was one of the pioneers reviving  the art of picture hanging, putting forward his proposals in colourful presentation drawings of wall elevations showing arrangements of paintings, curtains and furniture, in the tradition of the great architect-decorators William Kent and Robert Adam. Over his career he has produced some hundreds of designs, which are now part of the Victoria & Albert Museum’s Archive of Art and Design. In addition, Alec Cobbe has  transformed and enhanced great interiors in houses both in the UK and Ireland, such as Petworth, Kenwood, Harewood, Castletown Cox, and his family home Newbridge House, Co. Dublin. His work relies on detailed historical knowledge, together with his skill in combining paintings, furnishings and architecture into a rich ensemble.

He has also enlivened the display of museum collections in historic houses and palaces, with imaginative and historically informed exhibition furniture – at Windsor Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse, Scotland.

'Alec Cobbe: Designer, Painter, Connoisseur'  touches on these and other aspects of Alec Cobbe’s varied career as artist, designer, picture restorer, collector and connoisseur. It was presented at the Victoria & Albert Museum from December 2013 to April 2014, curated by Julius Bryant. OPW and Dublin Castle are proud to host this run of the exhibition, which will include the additional feature of a room surveying Cobbe’s journey as a painter, curated by artist Woody Kim.

The exhibition will be on view in Dublin Castle from 6th June to 24 September 2014 - Admission Free

Two publications will accompany the exhibition:

Julius Bryant: Alec Cobbe: Designs for Historic Interiors (V&A Publishing, 2013) and Woody Kim: Sensing Next: Alec Cobbe Painting (OPW, 2014).

-Ends-

For further information on the exhibition see www.dublincastle.ie

For media queries contact: opwpressoffice@opw.ie 

Note to Editors:

Dublin Castle

Contact Details:

Address: Dublin Castle, Dublin 2. Telephone No: +353 1 645 8813, Fax No: +353 1 679 7831 E-mail: dublincastle@opw.ie

Website: www.dublincastle.ie

Castle & Exhibition Opening Times:

Mon - Sat: 09.45 - 16.45 Sun and Public Holidays: 12.00 - 16.45

Guided/Self-Guided Tour Admission Fees:

Adult: €4.50, Student/Senior Citizen: €3.50, Child (over 7): €2.00

Dublin Castle can be closed at short notice for Government events. The State Apartments may be closed occasionally for State functions.

Facilities - Tearooms, Craft shop, Toilets, toilet for visitors with disabilities.

Dublin Castle:

Originally built in the 13th century on a site previously settled by the Vikings it functioned as a military fortress, a prison, treasury, courts of law and the seat of English Administration in Ireland for 700 years. Rebuilt in the 17th, 18th, 19th and 20th centuries, Dublin Castle is now used for important State receptions and Presidential Inaugurations. The State Apartments, Undercroft, Chapel Royal, Craft Shop, Heritage Centre and Restaurant are open to visitors.