Setting the Scene: Brendan Matthews discusses Gabrielle Ricciardelli

Gabrielle Ricciardelli was a Neapolitan landscape painter who arrived in Dublin in the year 1753 and remained in Ireland until 1759. While in Dublin his Patron was Ralph Howard, the first Viscount Wicklow and for whom he painted a number of works of art.

Ricciardelli also painted a couple of views of the old Stillorgan House and grounds in Dublin depicting elegant figures and a view of Dublin Bay in the background. In 1753 or in early 1754 he also travelled to Drogheda and painted two magnificent views of what was then a very progressive town at this period.

Community Historian Brendan Matthews has been researching the `life & times` of this Neapolitan Artist while he was in Ireland and has come across new information as to who may have commissioned his paintings of Drogheda and a possible location, or locations, as to where these two paintings were initially on display.

Join us in marking Heritage Week where Brendan will elaborate on the time period Ricciardelli spent in Ireland and of connections between the artist`s work and of some very prominent people at local level in the Drogheda district which may shed some new light on why these two paintings of the town were commissioned in the first instance and more importantly, by whom.

Tea, coffee and biscuits will be served.