A COLLECTION of paintings, furniture, ceramics and books, which give a unique insight into the social and cultural life of a leading "merchant prince" of 18th century Cork, went on display at the Crawford Art Gallery in the city over the weekend.
The gallery welcomed the Cooper Penrose Collection, which will be on permanent exhibition in two 18th century rooms, the "Penrose Rooms", on the first floor of the gallery.
The Cooper Penrose Collection was recently donated to the gallery by John and Helena Mooney.
A highlight of the collection is a group family portrait of Cooper Penrose, his wife Elizabeth and their two children, painted in 1776 by Robert Hunter. Penrose was the head of one of Cork's most successful mercantile families.
Apart from the family portraits and landscape paintings, there are items of Chinese export ware, Cork furniture and silver.
The Penrose family owned glass factories in Cork and Waterford and were among the foremost patrons of the arts in Ireland in the mid-18th century.
The family home, Woodhill House in Montenotte, Cork city, which has since been demolished, was an important centre for patronage of the arts.
The director of Crawford Art Gallery, Peter Murray, described the presentation of the Cooper Penrose Collection by the Mooney family as a significant privilege for the gallery.
"I am delighted to welcome it to its new home with us. The display of the collection in the newly named 'Penrose Rooms' at the Crawford Art Gallery is apt, as these early 18th century rooms provide an ideal environment for the display of the works of fine and decorative art," he said.