Country House Collections Their Lives and Afterlives

This volume of essays explores a range of country house collections in Ireland, the UK, the US, and Europe. It examines how collections were built up over time, how they were dispersed or destroyed, and how they have been interpreted and valued. Among the topics considered are the impact of exhibitions, auctions, and tax systems, private versus institutional collectors, the range of audiences who appreciate art, and how collections are made to tell national stories.

Terence Dooley is director of the Centre for Historic Irish Houses and Estates, Maynooth University. Christopher Ridgway is curator at Castle Howard in Yorkshire.