The Waterford Gallery of Art, which contains the city’s municipal art collection, has moved to a fine new home in the former Waterford Savings Bank building (1843) at 31-32 O’Connell Street in the city. To celebrate this welcome development the FNCI have purchased at auction and presented to the gallery, at their request, an attractive painting “The Cuilin” by Robert Burke. It shows a girl singing the traditional Irish air of the painting’s title while a young man accompanies her on the accordion. The melody has been admired by persons as diverse as Brendan Behan (definitely) and Handel (it is said).
Robert Burke (1909-1991), who was born in Scotland and studied at the Dundee College of Art, moved to Ireland and became headmaster of the Waterford School of Art. He played a major role in developing public appreciation of art in the region, and in the initiation of the annual Waterford Art Exhibitions and the establishment of the municipal art collection. He exhibited works at the RHA, the Royal Academy, London, and the Paris Salon.
