The Office of Public Works (OPW) is delighted to host an exhibition of Fr. Frank Browne's greatest photographs 'Through the Lens'. These photographs convey something of the remarkable talent of a man who is believed to be the most significant Irish photographer of the first half of the last century.

Frank Browne took his first photographs in 1897, during a European tour, and prior to his joining the Jesuits. In 1912 his 'Titanic' photographs brought international fame and while living in Australia, he made a superb series of photographs of life there. On his return to Ireland he continued to record aspects of Irish ways of life. These, when added to his images of life in South Africa, Sri Lanka, Spain, Egypt and England, provide a fascinating interpretation of a rapidly evolving world. Fr. Browne died in 1960 and his work was largely forgotten.

It wasn't until 1985 that over 40,000 negatives of Fr. Browne's work were discovered. Davison and Associates conserved, duplicated and catalogued this exceptional collection and now market the collection worldwide. The pictures, which in conjunction with the Yale University Press publication 'Frank Browne, A Life Through the Lens' will position him in his rightful place as one of the 20th century's great photographers.

This iconic exhibition was officially opened by An Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton, TD. with guest-speaker Dr. John Bowman, Broadcaster and Historian on 1 November and will run until 23 December 2014.

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Media queries: opwpressoffice@opw.ie or colette.davis@opw.ie

Curator: jurga.rakauskaite@opw.ie Images of the event available from Photocall Ireland stedman.photos@gmail.com

Note to Editors:

OPW and Farmleigh Gallery:

The Farmleigh Gallery is situated to the rear of the magnificent Farmleigh House and Gardens, an estate of 78 acres to the north-west of Dublin's Phoenix Park. The house has been carefully refurbished by the OPW.

Exhibition Dates: 23 October 2014 - 23 December 2014

Times: Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm (closed for lunch 1pm - 2pm)

E-mail: farmleighinfo@opw.ie

Web: www.farmleigh.ie

Facebook: Farmleigh Gallery