1951-1967

1951
Appointed to the first Arts Council (An Chomhairle Eala¡on).

1954
In January made first and only trip to the United States as Irish delegate to the Congress in Art History and Museology at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. During the trip he met Wallace Stevens and Marianne Moore at a luncheon at the home of Barbara Church.

1955
Received the Ufficiale al Merito della Repubblica Italiana from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Began writing memoirs.

1956
Had first heart attack.

1957
Awarded honorary Doctorate of Letters from the National University of Ireland. Had second heart attack. Began writing Nicolas Poussin.

1960
Nicolas Poussin published by The Dolmen Press.

1962
Made Officier de la Légion d'honneur. Organized the exhibition of Jack B. Yeats's work for the Irish section of the Venice Bienniale.

1963
Retired from the National Gallery because of failing health. Received the Silver Cultural Medal of the Direzione Generale delle Relazioni Culturali from the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

1967
Died 16 March 1967, the eve of St Patrick's Day, in Dublin.