Russborough House
Russborough in Co. Wicklow is one of the finest Palladian houses in Ireland and one of its best-preserved eighteenth-century buildings. It is home to the Beit Art Collection. Russborough was built c.1742-1752 to the designs of architect Richard Castle for Joseph Leeson who became the 1st Earl of Milltown and a great art collector. In 1931 the house was sold to Captain Denis Daly and then in 1952 to Sir Alfred Beit who famously brought the family’s extraordinary collection to the house. The Alfred Beit Foundation have owned and managed Russborough since it was established by Sir Alfred and Lady Clementine Beit in 1976. The Foundation is a registered charity, its mission is to promote education in the fine arts in Ireland and to preserve and make accessible to the public the house, collections, and demesne.
Russborough, Blessington, Co. Wicklow. Designed by renowned Palladian architect Richard Castle for Joseph Leeson, later 1st Earl of Milltown, completed c.1752
Russborough, Blessington, Co. Wicklow. Designed by renowned Palladian architect Richard Castle for Joseph Leeson, later 1st Earl of Milltown, completed c.1752
Saloon, Russbororough, Co. Wicklow. One of the most complete eighteenth century interiors in Ireland, featuring a Lafranchini ceiling, parquet floors, mahogany joinery and velvet wall covering.
Console table attributed to William Kent (c.1740) with Augsburg soup tureens (c.1750), surmounted by a 1904 Portrait of Alfred Beit (1853-1906) by Giovanni Boldini (1845 - 1931). Beit Collection, Russborough.
Meissen Augustus Rex vase (c.1740), Beit Collection, Russborough, Blessington, Co. Wicklow
Indian Blackbuck and Two Pointers by Jean Babtiste Oudry (1745), Beit Collection, Russborough, Blessington, Co. Wicklow
La Colonie Grecque, Marseilles by Pierre Puvis de Chavannes (1867), Beit Collection, Russborough, Blessington, Co. Wicklow