July 2020What’s on

Welcome back!

When we closed our doors on 13 March as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Chester Beatty faced uncertainty in how it would continue to deliver its public services. However, thanks to some creative thinking and a great deal of flexibility from staff, we hit our stride and a new ‘normal’ emerged.

To thank you all for your continued support and to brighten your lockdown experience, the team at the Chester Beatty worked tirelessly to bring the comforts of the Collections into your homes with online talks and workshops, In-Focus Tours, and 3D Virtual Tours of our galleries.

While we will continue to generate digital content into the future, I am delighted to say that the museum is open once more to visitors.

This means that you will once again be able to visit the Chester Beatty’s world-class Collections. And don’t forget our special exhibition of nineteenth-century photography: Siam through the lens of John Thomson, 1865–66, now extended until 3 January 2021.

The Silk Road Café and the Gift Shop are also open as usual, so you can enjoy a coffee or lunch, and pick up a souvenir of your visit if you wish.

The work of our Visitor Services Team has ensured that the building is safe to visit and complies with current public health advice. We have implemented physical distancing measures, hand sanitising stations, and floor markings to ensure your visit is safe and, above all, enjoyable.

For further details please check our website here, or follow us on social media.

We look forward to seeing you in the Chester Beatty very soon.

Thank you!

Fionnuala Croke Director

A Note from the Director

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Current ExhibitionSiam through the lens of John Thomson, 1865–66 Until 3 January 2021

The range, depth, and quality of John Thomson’s photographic vision mark him as one of history’s most important travel photographers.

Born in Edinburgh in 1837, Thomson travelled to Asia in 1862. Over the next ten years he undertook numerous journeys across the region, spending almost a year in the kingdom of Siam (modern Thailand) where he was granted unique access to the court of King Mongkut (r. 1851–68). The photographs Thomson took in Siam include portraits and palace scenes, religious ceremonies, architecture, and cityscapes. Thomson also received permission to visit Angkor Wat (then under Siam’s control), becoming the first to photograph its famous ruins.

On his return to Britain in 1872, Thomson brought with him more than 600 glass plate negatives: a unique archive of images now preserved at the Wellcome Library, London. Featuring twenty-four compelling images, Siam through the lens of John Thomson, 1865–66 introduces the sights and people of mid-nineteenth-century Thailand as witnessed by his camera.

The Chester Beatty thanks the exhibition lenders and organisers for supporting its extension until 3 January.

Top Portrait of a princess, possibly a daughter of Prince Nilarat Wellcome Collection Public Domain

Wat Chumphon Nikayaram Wellcome Collection Public Domain

The exhibition will close for a full changeover of works from 17 to 21 May.

Presented with the support of the Japan Foundation; exhibition symposium supported by Toshiba International Foundation.

Coming Soon

Edo in Colour: Prints from Japan’s Metropolis5 February – 29 August 2021 (closed 17 – 21 May for changeover of exhibits)

Japan’s woodblock prints were an affordable art, printed by the thousand and consumed as fast as fashion demanded. They are also aesthetically rich and technically accomplished. As the illustrious artists and shrewd publishers of Edo battled for market share, they constructed this bustling metropolis anew on paper. From buskers and teahouse beauties to actors, entertainers, prostitutes and star-crossed lovers, this exhibition explores the breathtaking world of the city now known as Tokyo.

To accompany the exhibition, the Chester Beatty looks forward to hosting a special symposium on the legacy of Japanese print specialist, Jack Hillier, who guided Beatty in his collecting.

Dry goods store Ebisuya Utagawa Toyokuni, Japan 1793–97 CBL J 2571

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Online Talks and WebinarsJoin us for a selection of talks and webinars, highlighting aspects of the Chester Beatty collections as well as activities and research taking place around the museum.

The Ones that Got Away! Chester and Edith Beatty’s Collection of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist PaintingsFionnuala Croke, Director, Chester BeattyAn insightful study of the now-dispersed, impressive collection of paintings assembled by Edith and Chester Beatty.

Explore the Chester Beatty OnlineLooking at Siam: Situating John Thomson’s Work Then and NowJon Riordan, Digital Photographer, Chester BeattyAn interesting examination of the development of photography in the age of John Thomson.

Insights Hidden in Plain Sight Dr Garrick Allen, Dublin City UniversityIn this short video, Dr Garrick Allen explores fascinating elements within a twelfth-century Greek Gospel manuscript (CBL W 139).

In-Focus ToursDiscover some of the remarkable treasures in the Chester Beatty Collections with an In-Focus Tour. Recorded by our museum curators, conservators, and tour guides, these online tours provide in-depth insight into some of the fascinating objects found in the museum’s collections. Features to be added this month include:

Star-Crossed Lovers Reunited: Celebrating Tanabata FestivalDr Mary Redfern, Curator of East Asian Collections

Spinning Success: The Kangxi Emperor’s Silk-making AlbumLaura Muldowney, Researcher, East Asian Collections

Sefer TorahDiana Delia, Guide

First Impressions: The Importance of BindingMary O’Riordan, Guide

TopYachting costume (Costume de Yacht: veste de drap, jupe de toile, chapeau de cuir). Barbier, George (1882–1932)Journal des Dames et des Modes. 1914, ParisCBL Wep 0940

Middle right Double frontispiece from a copy of the Qur’anArtist unknown c.1430, HeratCBL Is 1500, fols. 1v-2r

Watch Watch

Watch

Focus

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John Thomson the Intrepid Traveller: Siam and BeyondThu 9 July, 1.10pmBetty Yao MBE, Siam through the lens of John Thomson Exhibition Co-Curator

Tune in for this live, lunchtime talk following the trail of young John Thomson, from his early years in Edinburgh to his first major journey to photograph the fascinating kingdom of nineteenth-century Siam (Thailand)—only a few decades after the invention of photography. Exhibition Co-Curator Betty Yao will look at the people and places Thomson photographed and describe the twists and turns behind the survival of this valuable collection through 150 years.

Register

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Live Fan-making Workshop for Teens Fri, 17 July, 1pmKeep cool and look cool this summer! Spark your creativity with this online workshop and make your own paper fan inspired by the Chester Beatty Collections. Using craft and arts materials, you will design a fan that will keep you cool in the day and look cool at night. This workshop is in collaboration with the Festival of Curiosity.

Drawing with the Chester BeattySun 26 July Following last month’s video on how to create a homemade blending stump, join Roxana Manouchehri and discover the use of the tool for drawing with conté, a medium composed of powdered charcoal or graphite mixed with wax. This video demonstrates the use of drawing sticks, the effects of shading and textual grading with a blending stump.

Check out other drawing activities we have for you, along with our online workshops & how-to videos.

And keep the whole family busy with activity packs for all ages:

Activities at Home

Get CreativeTanabata Festival Family WorkshopTue 7 July During the Tanabata Festival, also known as the Star Festival, people all over Japan write wishes on small paper strips and hang them on bamboo branches or other ‘wish’ trees. Watch this video prepared by artist Jen O’Brien and follow the steps to create your own Tanabata streamer. What wish will you make?

Live Finger Puppets Workshop for Families Thu, 16 July, 1pmJoin Roxana Manouchehri in this live workshop on making finger puppets with paper, glue, and markers. Think about the play or movie characters you wish to bring to life with your own fingers. What accessories will they need? You can look at our wonderful collection online to get your creative juices flowing. In collaboration with the Festival of Curiosity.

Construct

Design

Create

Draw

Learn

Kids and families

Young people and adults

While we are delighted to welcome you back to the Chester Beatty, you can also visit our galleries online for a 3D virtual exhibition experience.

Featuring dramatic images developed from negatives preserved in London’s Wellcome Library, this temporary exhibition introduces the sights and people of nineteenth-century Thailand.

Tour the Galleries

View sacred texts and religious art from the East Asian, Islamic, and Western regions.

Explore the richness of East Asian, Islamic, and Western manuscript and printing traditions.

Above Buddhist monk holding a fan Wellcome Collection Public Domain

TopThe women at the open tomb from a Gospel bookc. 1536, possibly Syunik’ province (Armenia)CBL Arm 568 f. 05

AboveCoffee house scene (detail)Artist unknownc. 1620, IstanbulCBL T 439.9

Siam through the lens of John Thomson, 1865–66

Arts of the Book

Sacred Traditions

3D Virtual Tours

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Rediscover the Manichaean religion through the words of its followers.

From objects of the greatest beauty crafted for powerful rulers to treasures tracing the history of world religions, this exhibition featured artworks capturing the breadth and wonder of Sir Alfred Chester Beatty’s exceptional legacy.

Past ExhibitionsMissed out on a previous exhibition or want to revisit one? We have three on view:

The Chester Beatty preserves an internationally important yet little known collection of Buddhist manuscripts from Thailand. Unfolding a selection of these books, this exhibition provides a rare opportunity to explore the Buddhist tales depicted within.

AboveExtracts from the Pali canon (Tipitaka) and Qualities of the Buddha (Mahabuddhaguna)18th century, Thailand CBL Thi 1341

RightIbn al-Bawwab Qur’anIbn al-Bawwab1000–1001Baghdad, IraqCBL Is 1431

Gift of a Lifetime: Treasures from Chester Beatty’s Collection

Thai Buddhist Tales: Stories along the Path to Enlightenment

The Mystery of Mani

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Visit our website for a wealth of art, activities, learning resources, and other fun things to do for all ages.

With less than 2% of our Collections on display in the galleries, we are adding to our archive of digitised images so you can view more online.

Explore the Chester Beatty Online

Or you can access our continually expanding Digital Collections, a searchable database of digitised artworks and manuscripts.

Want to know more about Chester Beatty and what we do? Watch a film about the life of our founder or have a look at a timeline in the Chester Beatty Story.

Learn more about the fascinating behind-the-scenes work, projects, and activities from our Conservation, Digital, and Education teams.

TopYachting costume (Costume de Yacht: veste de drap, jupe de toile, chapeau de cuir). Barbier, George (1882–1932)Journal des Dames et des Modes. 1914, ParisCBL Wep 0940

Middle rightChester Beatty walking down a Mont Dore streetc.1934, FranceCB Archive, CBG/1

Blogs

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Explore

Search

Stay ConnectedChester Beatty and Google Arts & CultureFancy some world travel? The Google Arts & Culture portal includes exciting virtual tours of museums, libraries, and other cultural institutions around the world, including our very own world-class Collection.

Download the Chester Beatty Museum Guide AppDid you know we now have a new mobile app? The Chester Beatty Museum Guide is available for Apple and Android phones. Listen to our gallery audio tours in several languages (English, Irish, French, German, Italian, and Spanish), tour the virtual museum in 3D, and explore our Digital Collections Online with this exciting new resource portal.

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Virtual Meeting BackgroundsLooking for a background for your video meetings? Download our free packs of virtual meeting backgrounds with images from the Chester Beatty Collections.

Supporting the Chester BeattyAlthough the Chester Beatty does not charge for entry to the museum or to any of its exhibitions, we must increasingly rely on the generosity of our 370,000 annual visitors for essential funds to develop our activities. Your support enables us to deliver innovative programmes and events, present world-class exhibitions, conduct new research, and conserve the collections for future generations to enjoy.

Social MediaDon’t forget to follow us on social media for all the latest news and Collection highlights from our curators. Connect with fellow museum-lovers around the world, and be the first to learn about upcoming online talks, how-to videos, and other engaging content we will be posting in the days and weeks to come. Please stay connected with us on:

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Explore the Chester Beatty Online

Discover manuscripts, miniature paintings, prints, drawings, rare books, and decorative arts in this amazing Collection. The Chester Beatty captures much of the richness of human creative expression from about 2700 BC to the present day. Those who share a love of this splendid Collection and an appreciation of world cultures can follow in Chester Beatty’s footsteps by joining our Friends Membership Programme.

• Exclusive Friends Events: enjoy special evenings, lectures and trips abroad • Special Friends discount in the Silk Road Café and Shop • Friends Newsletter • Invitation to the Annual Lecture

Become a Friend of the Chester Beatty

Exclusive Range of Benefits

Membership starts from €65. Learn more about our Friends programme; please visit our website at: https://chesterbeatty.ie/support/friends-membership/ Email us at friends@cbl.ie or call 01 407 0759

Snuff bottle with integrated timepiece, enamel and pearls on goldSwitzerland, 1810-1830, CBL C 472

ChristChurchCathedral

GuinnessStorehouse

Trinity College& Luasstop

OlympiaTheatre

Dame Street

St Stephen’sGreen &Luas stop

City Hall

Dublin Castle

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Chester BeattyDublin Castle Dublin 2 D02 AD92 Ireland Tel: 01 4070750 Fax: 01 4070760 Email: info@cbl.ie www.chesterbeatty.ie

FacilitiesSilk Road CaféGift & Book Shop Audio-visual presentationsRoof GardenWheelchair accessBaby-changing facilities

Visitor InformationOpening timesMon, Tue, Thu, Fri, Sat 9.45am–5.30pmWed 9.45am–8pmSun 12 noon–5.30pm Closed Mondays Nov–Feb, Good Friday, 24, 25, 26 Dec & 1 JanAdmission Free