Exhibition Launch | The Rokeby Collection

Four people standing in front of two prints on a beige coloured wall at exhibition launch in Armagh County Museum, curator Sean Barden in dark trousers and light shirt, Lord Mayor Margaret Tinsley in cerise patterned dress and mayoral chain, Archbishop John McDowell and Dean Shane Forster in clerical dress.

From left Mr Sean Barden, Curator of Armagh County Museum; the Lord Mayor, Councillor Margaret Tinsley; Archbishop John McDowell, Chairman of the Governors and Guardians of Armagh Robinson Library; and the Very Revd Shane Forster, Keeper of Armagh Robinson Library. Image credit: Ian Maginess.

Six people in front of four prints on beige coloured wall in Armagh County Museum, Assistant Keeper Carol Conlin in dark trousers and striped top; Archivist Thirza Mulder in black jumpsuit; Funder Gareth Clayton from the Paul Mellon Centre in dark trousers and violet shirt, and Library volunteers Chloe McCollum in grey denim trousers and blue denim jacket, Gregory Dunstan in grey trousers, light shirt and cream blazer and Stephen Day in dark trousers and light shirt.

From left, Ms Carol Conlin, Assistant Keeper; Ms Thirza Mulder, Archivist; Mr Gareth Clayton from the Paul Mellon Centre, and Library volunteers Ms Chloe McCollum, the Very Revd Gregory Dunstan and Dr Stephen Day. Image credit: Ian Maginess.

Five people standing in front of two prints on a beige coloured wall at exhibition launch in Armagh County Museum: Governor and Guardian Brett Hannam in black suit and blue shirt,; Archivist Thirza Mulder in black jumpsuit; Museum Mentor Noreen Cunningham in black dress and pearl necklass, and Governor and Guardian Peter Thompson in clerical dress, and miss Sarah Thompson in a flowery dress.

From left: Mr Brett Hannam, Governor and Guardian; Ms Thirza Mulder, Archivist; Ms Noreen Cunningham, Museum Mentor and Archdeacon Peter Thompson, Governor and Guardian with Miss Sarah Thompson. Image credit: Ian Maginess.

Three ladies standing in front of two prints on a beige coloured wall at exhibition launch in Armagh County Museum: Margaret Oakes in light blue trousers and white-blue flower print top, Ann Cassidy in blue printed top and Zena Dawson in cream trousers and blue white-spotted blouse.

From left Mrs Margaret Oakes, Mrs Ann Cassidy and Mrs Zena Dawson. Image credit: Ian Maginess.

Two ladies standing in front of three prints on a beige coloured wall at exhibition launch in Armagh County Museum: Angela Boylan in yellow top and black cardigan and Lois Bennett in striped top and grey cardigan.

Mrs Angela Boylan and Mrs Lois Bennett. Image credit: Ian Maginess.

Two gentleman standing in front of two prints on a beige coloured wall at exhibition launch in Armagh County Museum: Curator of Newry and Mourne Museum Ken Abraham in light shirt and cream blazer, and Library supporter David Dunlop, sporting ginger-grey beard, in tartan shirt and blue-grey blazer.

Dr Ken Abraham, Curator of Newry and Mourne Museum and Library supporter, Mr David Dunlop. Image credit: Ian Maginess.

Best known for the rows of leather-bound books on the shelves of its ‘Long Room’, Armagh Robinson Library is delighted to have the opportunity to promote its print collection in Armagh County Museum with the exhibition The Rokeby Collection. Prints at Armagh Robinson Library.

Called the Rokeby Collection, it consists of more than four thousand prints and is recognised as one of the great art collections in Northern Ireland. A rare example of an intact eighteenth-century print collection in its original home, it is similar to the few other surviving collections of the period. However, its uniqueness is that the prints remain largely unbound.

The prints are from countries throughout Europe, dating from the sixteenth to eighteenth centuries. They were given to the Library by its founder, Archbishop Richard Robinson. He was a considerable collector, not only of prints, but also of coins, medals and gems, all of which were left to Armagh Robinson Library following his death.

The Library is grateful to the funders of the Rokeby Collection Print Project, as they have helped to raise awareness of and to protect the prints. They include the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art and the Association of Independent Museums. The Library is very grateful to Armagh County Museum for having the exhibition on public display for the month of June, enabling more people to see this selection of the collection.

Archbishop John McDowell, as Chairman of the Governors and Guardians of the Library, launched the exhibition. Speaking at the event, the Archbishop said,

It is my pleasure to launch this exhibition which gives a fine overview of the Rokeby Collection, given by one of my predecessors to the Library and to the people of Armagh.

I wish to pay credit to a number of people, including Gareth Clayton who is with us from the Paul Mellon Centre, the main funder of the project. This support has enabled the gathering of knowledge and greater access to the print collection.

I also thank in her absence, Ella Letort, who carried out the research and preparations for this exhibition. Ella was one of the Curatorial Research Fellows involved in the project and her work has been meticulous throughout. I also want to thank the Association of Independent Museums for their funding support as several of the prints needed to be conserved and framed.

This exhibition could not take place without the agreement of Armagh County Museum’s curator, Sean Barden, who kindly let us have the use of this gallery. A warm gesture by one accredited museum to another. Finally, I would wish to thank publicly the Library’s Archivist, Thirza Mulder, who has worked on this project to bring it to a successful conclusion.

The exhibition will be on view in Armagh County Museum for the month of June. A longer, more detailed exhibition is available on the Library’s website: The Rokeby Collection. Prints at Armagh Robinson Library.