Hugh Lane Gallery

Fine impressionist paintings and the world's messiest studio
Word to the wise: Do take the time to watch the video interview with Francis Bacon - he's a fascinating character, and far more larky than his curdled paintings might suggest.

Hugh Lane was a Victorian art patron who left his extensive collection of Impressionist works to the city, provided a suitable gallery be built to house it. It took a while for his wishes to be granted - this airy, white, three-floored gallery only opened in 2006 - but one hopes he would think it worth the wait.
Works by the likes of Manet, Monet, Renoir and Degas have been joined by installations from contemporary artists and, in a pièce de résistance, the studio of the Dublin-born Francis Bacon. The studio and its contents were painstakingly moved here, clotted paintbrush by crumpled newspaper, from its original location in London, and those who have seen photographs of the painter at work will appreciate what a task that was: it's a glorious, jaw-dropping mess, many leagues beyond cluttered. There's also a good collection of Bacon paintings in an adjoining gallery.