Recorded by Volunteer Guides and the Curators of the Chester Beatty, these mini audio tours focus on a particular theme. Each tour is illustrated by images from the museum’s collection, allowing our visitors access to these world-class masterpieces from their homes.
In-Focus Audio Tour with Orla Ryan
Among the great treasures of the Chester Beatty is a collection of over 130 woodcuts and engravings by the German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528).
Join our guide Orla Ryan and discover the world of this brilliant Renaissance artist as well as the stories behind some of his woodcuts.
In-Focus Audio Tour
In 1929, seven papyrus books from the lost Manichaean religion were discovered in Egypt. Dated to c. 400 AD, these unique texts proved critical in deepening understanding of this once thriving, yet effectively suppressed faith.
This audio tour was recorded as part of our exhibition Mystery of Mani, 21 June 2019 – 19 January 2020
In-Focus Audio Tour with Orla Ryan
Among the great treasures of the Chester Beatty is a collection of over 130 woodcuts and engravings by the great German artist Albrecht Dürer (1471-1528).
Join our guide Orla Ryan, to discover the world of this brilliant Renaissance Master and stories behind some of his engravings.
In-Focus Audio Tour with Joan Barnewell
The Chester Beatty holds many copies of one of the great classics of world literature – the Shahnama, or the Book of Kings. It tells the glorious and sometimes fantastical tales of the heroes and kings of Iran.
This is a short introduction to three of the beautiful paintings from the Shahnama which belonged to Shah Abbas I, the 16th century ruler of Iran.
In-Focus Audio Tour with Joan Barnewell
The Chester Beatty holds many fashion and costume plates, including those published in Journal des Dames et des Modes (1912-1914).
Listen to our guide Joan Barnewell as she describes some of the vividly coloured fashion illustrations while introducing the designers and artists behind them.
In-Focus Audio Tour with Laura Muldowney
On 7 May 2020, many Buddhists around the world will observe the Vesak Festival or Buddha Day.
Here, Laura Muldowney, curator of our recent Thai Buddhist Tales exhibition, introduces the festival with reference to our beautiful Thai manuscripts.
In-Focus Audio Tour with Jo O’Rourke
This exhibition gives us a glimpse into some characteristics of people and places of Siam in the 1860s. We are guided through a wonderful collection of images taken with great sensitivity by one of the pioneers of photojournalism, John Thomson (1837-1921).
In-Focus Audio Tour with Joan Barnewell
The Chester Beatty has a wonderful collection of over 900 snuff bottles. This is a short introduction to some of these beautiful miniature masterpieces, and an opportunity to view some of the amazing details close-up.
