View of Bray Head and Killiney Bay with Steam Train

Andrew Nicholl , Irish, 1804-1886

Title

Datec.1857

MediumWatercolour and graphite on paper

Dimensions

34 x 50.5 cm

Credit LinePurchased, 2014

Object numberNGI.2014.3

DescriptionThis atmospheric watercolour is typical of Nicholl's mature style. He uses light watercolour washes with scraping out to delineate the clear sky and mossy foreground rock and cattle. The view depicts the rural landscape of south Dublin with the train indicated by a plume of smoke in the middle distance. This watercolour is of significance as it depicts part of the Dublin to Wicklow railway built by engineer William Dargan (1799 -1867), the key figure behind the foundation of the National Gallery of Ireland in 1854. He built most of the line from Harcourt Street to Wicklow and was successively contractor, investor, board member and finally (in 1864) chairman of the railway company.
Exhibition HistoryNew Perspectives. Acquisitions 2011 - 2020, National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin, 11 May - 2 August 2021