Watch: Historic moment as iconic Canova Casts at Crawford Art Gallery are removed
Gallery director Mary McCarthy, production manager Kathryn Coughlan and curator of collections Michael Waldron pictured during the removal of Crawford Art Gallery’s iconic collection of Canova casts. Photo: Joleen Cronin
Crawford Art Gallery’s iconic collection of Canova Casts have left the building for the first time in 140 years, marking a historic moment in the life of the gallery.
The delicate process of crating and removing the much-loved artworks of 25 plaster cast and marble works concluded this week.
The Canova Casts were carefully packed in bespoke storage crates and moved from the 19th century wing of the gallery, built by brewing magnate William Horatio Crawford in 1884, in part to house the sculptures.
The artworks were moved to secure storage to prepare for the multi-million euro redevelopment of the gallery that will create 50% more space and include a restaurant and a new sky gallery overlooking Cork city.
Cast from masterpieces in the Vatican collection by Italian sculptor Antonio Canova under orders from Pope Pious the VII and presented to Cork in 1818, the much-loved sculptures, including Laocoon and his Sons, The Bathing Venus, and the Belvedere Torso have been firm favourites with over 250,000 visitors to the gallery each year.
Many of the sculptures are estimated to weigh in excess of two tonnes, with smaller pieces weighing in at anywhere between 75kg to 500kg.
Gallery director Mary McCarthy praised the dedication of the team involved in the removal of the artworks and described it as a pivotal moment in the history of Crawford Art Gallery.
“I’m delighted to announce the successful removal of our beautiful Canova Casts from the Sculpture Galleries, a big moment for Crawford Art Gallery as these treasured works have not been moved out of the building for 140 years,” she said.
“This is a huge milestone in the decant process of the entire collection into safe storage to prepare for Transforming Crawford Art Gallery, our capital redevelopment project.
“The planning and dedication and expertise that has gone into their safe removal has been awe-inspiring to see and I want to pay tribute to our in-house technical team, supported by additional external experts, our production manager and our registrar for their work in carrying off this historically important removal smoothly and with great professionalism.”
Ms McCarthy acknowledged that people will miss the artworks while the gallery is closed but reassured the public that the gallery’s much-needed restoration works would ensure that people have a gallery to enjoy for centuries to come.
Over 3,500 artworks in Crawford Art Gallery’s collection are currently being decanted into safe storage in time for redevelopment works to begin in spring 2025.
