The aspiration to establish a permanent collection of Old Master pictures in Ireland can be traced back at least to the second half of the 18th century. In 1766 the Society of Artists considered the establishment of a permanent gallery in its new premises in William Street, Dublin. Gradually, the collection began to assume the character of a broad, well-balanced survey of European art with a degree of thoroughness which belied the institution's modest resources. Of the many outstanding gallery benefactors was George Bernard Shaw, who bequeathed to it a third part of the royalties of his estate.