2002 Exhibition

This exhibition finished in June 2003. The items described here are no longer on public display in the Library. Information about current Library exhibitions is available on our events page.

The exhibition was opened in the Library by H.E. M. Gabriel de Bellescize, Ambassador of France, on 25th of June 2002, and was open to the public until June 2003. The following is the short description of the exhibition that was published at the time.

The books to be seen this year are magnificent. On display are some of the largest books in the library, a selection that, in fact, represents the best work of some of the best publishers of books throughout Europe in the 17th and 18th centuries.

Here are The religious ceremonies and customs of the several nations of the known world by J.F. Bernard and Bernard Picart, illustrated with wonderful engravings of exotic customs in far-away countries. Also the great books of the Ruins of Balbec, and the Society of Dilettanti's Ionian antiquities, handsome and expensive volumes showing marvellous illustrations of antiquities. Included also is a volume of plates to accompany Captain Cook's voyages. These are surely designed to titillate. The young ladies of 18th-century England must have been quite shocked by the pictures of semi-naked savages, close-up or performing exotic dances.

The Malton prints of Dublin need no introduction as reproductions of them are everywhere, but perhaps people will be glad to see them gathered into a book in their original size. John Aheron's architect's drawings and George Grierson's fine printing of the Book of Common Prayer are examples of the work of the Dublin publishers of the eighteenth century. At this time Dublin could produce printing to rival the best in the world.

Foxe's Book of Martyrs, with its graphic depictions of the most revolting tortures, is little short of grotesque, and Govard Bidloo's Anatomia humani corporis contains terrifyingly detailed plates of the human anatomy.

There are also two books of flowers. Gerard's Herball and Rabel's Theatrum florae. Rabel's book is one of the most beautiful sets of engravings of flowers ever produced. The addition of butterflies seems like sheer exuberance.

As a complete contrast to all these very large books there is one case with some of the smallest books in the library. Here is the smallest book: Boethius's Consolation of philosophy in miniature format. There are also some little books for little people. The horn-books show how children used to have to learn to read, and the tiny paper-back stories are examples of the sort of improving literature children were supposed to enjoy once they could read.

A short description of the official opening was published in the Irish Times of Saturday 29th June 2002 and is available online (Irish Times subscription required).