The RIAI Murray is one of the most outstanding collections of architectural drawings in Ireland. It was presented to the RIAI by Albert Murray (1849-1924) in 1923. He was the last of three generations of his family to have practised as architects in Dublin and the collection had come down to him through descent from his grandfather William Murray (1787-1849) and father William George Murray (1822-1871). Each had close ties with the RIAI, especially Albert who had served for seventeen years as honorary secretary, thirteen years as honorary treasurer and was President between 1911 and 1912.
The collection contains approximately 1,230 architectural drawings (mostly plans, elevations or sections with a small number of perspectives). There are in addition some maps, lithographs and manuscripts (mainly specifications). The whole collection embraces a period of 160 years, the earliest drawing being a plan for Carton House attributed to Richard Castle, c. 1740, and the latest memorial designs of 1901. The nucleus of the collection (approximately one third of the drawings) are designs by Francis Johnston, perhaps the most eminent Irish architect of his day. Also in the collection are drawings by thirty other architects including James Wyatt, Thomas Cooley, James Gandon, Henry Aaron Baker, Sir Richard Morrison, Charles Lanyon and William Henry Lynn.
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