The Casino is all that remains of the eighteenth-century garden demesne at Marino. Described by Charles T. Bowden in his Travel Guide of 1791 as a ‘terrestrial paradise’, the design of the landscape was inspired by Lord Charlemont’s extensive Grand Tour. The exhibition, Paradise Lost: Lord Charlemont’s Garden at Marino, gathers together an eclectic collection of evidence and remnants of the exotic planting, fascinating architecture, and classical sculpture which inhabited the garden. Accounts of contemporaries who visited and sampled the delights of Marino, such as Mrs Mary Delany, the well known eighteenth-century social commentator, bring the past to life. Paradise Lost ran from 1st May to 31st October 2014 at the Casino Marino in Dublin, Ireland.
Download
The full exhibition catalogue.
Online Exhibition
The online version of Paradise Lost is intended to give access to all of the exhibits. Maps, drawings, paintings, sculpture, material objects, and photographs are organised into the rooms of the Casino as they appear during Summer 2014.
All images are copyrighted to the institution or collector identified on their label. To see any image larger, just right-click and choose ‘open in a new tab’.
The Vestibule
Use the arrows to the left and right to explore the items which were exhibited in the entrance hall of the Casino.
The Saloon
Use the arrows to the left and right to explore the items which were exhibited in the main apartment of the Casino.
The Zodiac Room
Use the arrows to the left and right to explore the items which were exhibited in the library of the Casino.
The China Closet
Use the arrows to the left and right to explore the items which were exhibited in the China Closet of the Casino.
The Upper Landing
Use the arrows to the left and right to explore the items which were exhibited on the Upper Landing of the Casino.
The Map Room
Use the arrows to the left and right to explore the items which were exhibited in the pink bedroom of the Casino.
The State Bedroom
Use the arrows to the left and right to explore the items which were exhibited in the main bedroom of the Casino.
Book
Charlemont’s Marino: Portrait of a Landscape by Ruth Musielak, was published to accompany the Paradise Lost exhibition. This richly-illustrated book lays out in essay format the full history behind Charlemont’s design of his estate at Marino. There is also an insert by Séamus O’Brien, head gardener at Kilmacurragh, on the exotic species of plants imported. The book was graphically designed by Liam Furlong.
You can purchase a copy of Charlemont’s Marino from the reception desk at the Casino (contact us if you cannot visit in person). There is also a copy available in all branches of Dublin City Libraries.
Take the Tour
Take your exhibition experience outside, into the heart of modern Marino, and recreate Charlemont’s lost demesne through this marvellous FREE smartphone app. Available for iPhone or Android. This walking trail audio guide is narrated by Pat Liddy, Marino local and Dublin historian, with inserts by actors reading aloud historical letters. Each stop is illustrated by images from history. The walking trail works with your phone’s own GPS to easily guide you around the vanished landscape. There is even a coffee stop halfway! Once downloaded, the app works offline, with no roaming charges. Requires installation of the free GuidiGo app. Click here to see the full app.
Accompanying the audio guide is this handy trail leaflet, which also works on its own to guide you around the sights. You can print this off yourself by clicking here, or grab a free copy at the Casino reception during your visit to the exhibition.
And just for little ones…
The same tour can be taken around the old Marino demesne as an exciting treasure hunt. Download the FREE map by clicking here, print it out, and follow the clues that lead you through pineapples, dragons, and dogs. You can also pick up a free copy at the Casino reception when you are visiting the building. This treasure hunt follows the same stops as the audioguide and app above, so the whole family can enjoy the walking trail together. Good luck in your mission!
Press
Irish Arts Review, Spring 2014. Rose Anne White on an unusual exhibition in Lord Charlemont’s Casino in Marino that captures the original splendour of the lost demesne. Read the full article online for free.
Irish Architectural and Decorative Studies, Volume XVI. William Laffan and Kevin V. Mulligan, ‘Accommodating the ‘graces of sculpture’: drawings by Giovanni Battista Cipriani for the attic statuary of the Casino at Marino’. Read the opening paragraphs of this article for free here (courtesy Gandon Editions, the authors, and the Irish Georgian Society). The full edition can be bought online.
Irish Arts Review, Autumn 2014. Ruth Musielak considers the vista from Lord Charlemont’s Casino in Marino as illustrated by the current landscape exhibition Read the full article online for free.
Launch
The exhibition was launched on Saturday the 10th of May 2014; below are some photographs of the event.
- (L-R) Paradise Lost curators Dr. Rose Anne White and Mary Heffernan with Dr. Romily Turton and Clare McGrath OPW Chairman
- Listening to the launch speeches.
- People beginning to arrive for the Paradise Lost launch. OPW.
- Clare McGrath, OPW Chairman, with Dr. Romily Turton in the Gothic Seat
- Dr. Ruth Musielak and Dr. Rose Anne White
- Viewing prints in the Upper Landing during the Paradise Lost launch
- Clare McGrath, OPW Chairman, with Dr. Romily Turton viewing the model of Lord Charlemont’s Gardens at Marino
- Viewing exhibits in the Map Room during the Paradise Lost launch
Conference
To coincide with the Office of Public Works’ exhibition, Paradise Lost: Lord Charlemont’s Garden at Marino (1st May – 31st October 2014), the Irish Georgian Society partnered with the OPW to present a study day which focused on the history, design and conservation of Lord Charlemont’s estate at Marino. Although the house has now vanished, Marino is still home to one of Ireland’s finest neoclassical buildings, namely the Casino Marino (designed by Sir William Chambers and completed in 1775).
The study day focused on the extensive designed landscape of Marino House and its environs. Participating speakers included Patrick Bowe, Dr Marion Harney, Elizabeth Morgan, Kevin Mulligan, Dr Ruth Musielak, Melissa O’Brien, Dr Finola O’Kane Crimmins, Dr Romilly Turton, and Dr Rose Anne White. OPW Commissioner, John McMahon, opened the study day, which was chaired by Donough Cahill, Patrick Guinness, Mary Heffernan, Dr Matthew Jebb and John O’Connell.
Download the full programme for the day, including speaker biographies and abstracts, here.
Read a blog post from the Irish Georgian Society on how the day went here.
Credits
Co-ordinating this exhibition and catalogue has been a wonderful experience for the curators, and we wish to thank the following institutions for their enthusiastic collaboration.
Dublin City Archives
Dublin City Gallery the Hugh Lane
Glucksman Map Library, Trinity College Dublin
Marino Institute of Education
Ordnance Survey Ireland
The Irish Georgian Society
The Lewis Walpole Library
The National Gallery of Ireland
The National Library of Ireland
The National Photographic Archive
The Royal Irish Academy
Yale Center for British Art
Within and alongside these, we are very grateful to Patrick Bowe, Mary Broderick, Matthew Cains, Margarita Cappock, Christine Casey, Patrick and Vicky Earley, Honora Faul, Paul Ferguson, Siobhán Fitzpatrick, Ciarán Fogarty, Emmeline Henderson, Anne Hodge, Patricia Hyde, William Laffan, Sandra McDermott, Dave McKeon, Síle McNulty-Goodwin, Ruth Musielak, Franc Myles, John O’Connell, Finola O’Kane, John Redmill, Finola Reid, Petra Schnabel, and Romilly Turton.
Special thanks to all at the Office of Public Works, who worked tirelessly to make the idea of Paradise Lost a reality, especially the team at the Casino, Alexandra Caccamo, John Cahill, Denis Carr, Willie Cumming, Colette Davis, Mick Doyle, Liam Egan, John Hayes, Matthew Jebb, Adrian Kennedy, Pauline Kennedy, David Levins, Clare McGrath, John McMahon, George Moir, Jacquie Moore, Elizabeth Morgan, Ciaran Murtagh, Aisling Ní Bhriain, Melissa O’Brien, Seamus O’Brien, and Ray Rafferty.
The exhibition and catalogue were expertly brought to life by the following specialists. Thank you to Audrey Brennan Productions, Conservation Letterfrack, Davison Photography, Gerard Crowley Modelmakers, Ingenious Ireland and Pat Liddy, Nicholson and Bass, Space Creative, Vermillion Design, and Wellesley Ashe Gallery.
