Presented by Dr. Christopher Monkhouse, Eloise W. Martin Curator and Chairman, Department of European Decorative Arts, The Art Institute of Chicago. Opening in March at the Art Institute of Chicago, Ireland on a World Stage, 1690–1840 will present 300 objects drawn from public and private collections across North America to provide a richly layered overview of the Emerald Isle during its first “Golden Age.” The seeds for this exhibition were first planted by historian Desmond FitzGerald, the Knight of Glin, who in his 2007 book Irish Furniture outlined his vision for: “… a major exhibition on Ireland’s decorative arts of the 18th century, which would include furniture [and] bring together the common threads of the different fields. It would give an overview of the shared patrimony with England and the Continent and show the high level of craftsmanship achieved in Ireland at that time. A show of this stature would waken up the world to a staggering array of art that was manufactured in Ireland during this period.” Ever since the Agricultural Depression in the British Isles in the 1880s, many extraordinary objects from Ireland have come to the United States and Canada and are now scattered from Honolulu, Hawaii, to Portland, Maine, and from Ottawa, Canada, to San Antonio, Texas. The exhibition, organized by the Dr. Christopher Monkhouse, will expand on the Knight of Glin’s vision to also include paintings, sculpture and architecture in addition to bookbindings, ceramics, glass, furniture, metalwork, and textiles. This lecture is made possible through proceeds from the Houston Antiques Dealers Association Antiques Spring Show and Sale, Friday, March 22 through Sunday, March 24 at the George R. Brown Convention Center. For information, visit www.hadaantiques.com.A reception to meet the speaker follows each lecture. This lecture is free, but tickets are required for each lecture. Secure your seats and reserve tickets in advance!  Tickets will be available soon. Questions? E-mail lectures@mfah.org.