This breath-taking museum is free! The
Victoria and Albert Museum is a collection primarily of artifacts spanning time and the world. The emphasis on objects, to me, makes the vast collection more approachable. You can imagine a person making and then using a Tibetan vajra in a way that sparks a connection more than a painting. There is an interesting collection of decorative cast iron; a sculpture court; the throne of a Sikh maharaja. There is a huge collection of jewelry that is especially awe-inspiring. Also fascinating is the Court of Casts. These beautiful, full-scale models present monumental sculptures and architectural details. It must have been wonderful for people to have an opportunity to see "David" by Michelangelo, in an accurate reproduction, in a time when travel was a luxury available to the few.
To me, the highlight was the Refreshment Room. These spaces were designed by leading Arts & Crafts artists of the day. It was the first cafe in a museum, which shows that the collection was meant to be enjoyed by a wide audience.
We enjoyed tea and scones under the watchful eye of these peacocks.
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| Facade of the interior courtyard |
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| The main refreshment room decorated for the Hols |
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| Another detail |
This wall treatment from the refreshment room appears to be wallpaper, from a distance:
Here are some pieces from the collection:
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| This almost life-size automaton emits groans from the victim (English) |
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| Me with a hangover (actually the Minotaur as sculpted by Canova) |
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| An overview of one part of the Court of Casts |
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| Detail of an altar |
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| One of many wrought iron pieces |
A triptych altar:
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