AIB spoils are silver lining for Crawford

Some of the most valuable paintings in state-owned AIB’s vast corporate art collection were unveiled to the public at Cork’s Crawford Art Gallery yesterday.

Gallery director Peter Murray described the acquisition of 39 works by some of Ireland’s leading 19th and 20th century artists as “the most important leap forward in almost a century” for what is the only national cultural institution outside Dublin.

“The donation fills significant gaps in the gallery’s permanent collection, particularly in respect of the fine William Scott, and the Roderic O’Connor Red Rocks at Pont Aven, a wonderful post-Impressionist painting,” he said.