Changing Perceptions: Women of Art and Medicine in RCPI

This Culture Night, RCPI’s historic home of The Royal College of Physicians of Ireland (RCPI) at 6 Kildare Street will be open to the public from 5pm to 9pm, allowing the chance to explore their art collection. A new self-guided tour will take visitors around the building, allowing the public to learn more about the women represented in the works as physicians, painters, and patients.

RCPI’s art collection helps tell the story of the medical profession and its personalities – including their class and gender. It is of little surprise that the paintings in RCPI's art collection are predominantly of and by men. This new project brings the portraits of and by women to prominence, an important correction that demonstrates the changing role of women in history, medicine, and artistic practice.