Earlier this month the Dublin Painting & Sketching Club (founded 1874) held its annual exhibition.
![Opening the exhibition (Photo Gary Rowe) Opening the exhibition (Photo Gary Rowe)](http://irishartblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2011-04-03_DPSC_Exhibition_Opening_0081-1-300x200.jpg)
To celebrate Dublin’s award as the ‘City of Literature’ (UNESCO Award 2010), the Club has incorporated a literary theme this year. Over 25 members showed works specially created with literary interest for the exhibition – portraits of Irish writers or paintings of historical sites associated with them, as well images inspired by some of Ireland’s best poetry and prose.
![Artist Pat McGloughlin with Liam Madden, Irish Art Blog at the opening (photo Gary Rowe) Artist Pat McGloughlin with Liam Madden, Irish Art Blog at the opening (photo Gary Rowe)](http://irishartblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2011-04-03_DPSC_Exhibition_Opening_0089-1-300x273.jpg)
The exhibition, held annually by the Dublin Painting & Sketching Club, a national artists’ organisation and one of Ireland’s oldest, featured fine art by 77 well-known contemporary Irish artists from Dublin and many parts of the country. All are members of the Club, among them some Royal Hibernian Academy artists.
![At the exhibition opening with a painting of Irish writer Colm T?ibín by artist Aidan Hickey in the background At the exhibition opening with a painting of Irish writer Colm T?ibín by artist Aidan Hickey in the background](http://irishartblog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/2011-04-03_DPSC_Exhibition_Opening_0164-1-300x240.jpg)
To celebrate Dublin’s award as the ‘City of Literature’ (UNESCO Award 2010), the Club has incorporated a literary theme this year. Over 25 members are showing works specially created with literary interest for the exhibition – portraits of Irish writers or paintings of historical sites associated with them, as well images inspired by some of Ireland’s best poetry and prose.