From Heritage Portal:
An open-access visual archive of architecture and sculpture
Gothic Past is an open-access visual archive of Irish medieval architecture and sculpture that showcases thousands of photographs and drawings of medieval Irish architecture and sculpture. The site was launched by the Provost of Trinity College Dublin, Dr Patrick Prendergast, on February 15, 2012. Since then the site has had thousands of hits and page views by web users worldwide.
http://www.gothicpast.com is a rich source of visual material for the general public and researchers of Irish architecture and heritage tourism.
The visual content of the site includes material drawn from collections held in the archives of TRIARC, the Irish Art Research Centre at Trinity College Dublin, some which goes back more than half a century.
Ardfert Cathedral
What makes the Gothic Past archive so valuable to researchers and the general public is that it contains many illustrations of structures that have undergone changes since first being photographed. Images of some of Ireland’s best-known monuments are featured, including St Patrick’s Cathedral on the Rock of Cashel; abbeys and friaries, stone carving and tomb sculpture also figure prominently. The photographs come from the personal collection of Roger Stalley, former professor of the History of Art at Trinity College as well as from the collection of the late Edwin Rae, an American professor who first came to Ireland in the 1930s. Another collection includes more recent photographs and drawings of architectural features by Trinity Research Associate Dr Danielle O’Donovan, a specialist in medieval architectural history and digital learning.“The availability of the Gothic Past website offers new and innovative opportunities for global users to explore and engage with images of Irish medieval architecture and sculpture. Registered users of the site already include historians, archivists, and genealogists. A high proportion of users are tourists planning to visit Ireland or those with a personal or professional interest in Irish culture and heritage,” explained Professor Stalley.
