Figure 38.14 The Grand Gallery in the National Gallery of Ireland, Dublin. This was the main gallery, filled with paintings and sculptures when the building was initially opened in 1854.
Sources of Information Large museums and galleries will have a catalogue of their permanent collection and maps of the layout of the galleries. Temporary exhibitions may have a smaller catalogue and the work can be identified by a number or an information label beside the work.
Some galleries have interpretive media and technology that you can interact with, which may provide audio or video information on the exhibition (Fig. 38.16). Phone apps are available in some galleries to guide you round the exhibits and provide background information.
Figure 38.15 The Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, George William Frederick Howard, 7th Earl of Carlisle, (1802–1864), opening the National Gallery of Ireland. A wood engraving from the National Gallery of Ireland.
National Gallery, glass roofs with obscure glass fill the rooms with soft natural light (Fig. 38.14).
Modern artificial light can be very unobtrusive; small lighting units can be kept out of sight, throwing gentle light on the exhibits. You should try to find out how it is arranged in an exhibition that you visit so you can appreciate what good lighting can bring to a display.
UNIT 14 ARTISTS: PROCESSES AND MEDIA
Figure 38.16 A virtual reality experience at an art gallery.
