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| Wednesday, 22 September 2004 |
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The spectacular Victoria and Albert Museum by Gwen Herat in Kensington Each time I visit a museum, it is a new experience that is wholesome and complete and a joy that I wish to share with thousands of art lovers in Sri Lanka who are not as fortunate as I am and the least I can do is to give them an insight in to the works of all these great Masters of yore.
Tracking down Cornwell Road in South Kensington, one comes face to face with the Victoria and Albert Museum which is also known as the V and A and considered as the world's greatest museum of art and design. To make works of art available and to inspire them, it was established in 1852 and adopted the current name in 1899 after Queen Victoria laid the foundation for a new wing. It was renamed in memory of her husband. From around the world all collections of human creativity spanning over 2000 years are collected here. Its rich and diverse collections are not confined to art alone but covers every object of artistic value and as expected the displays are both beautiful and stimulating. There are two sections in the V & A. One highlight the galleries while the other is in four parts reflecting other art forms of the museum. It takes about an hour to go through Level 1 and what fascinated me among others were the The Miraculous Draught of Fishes by Raphael, The Crucified Christ by Pisano, the Cast of Michaelangelo's David, The Becket Casket and the Rotunda Chandelier Grand Entrance of the V & A. High profile The very high profile collection of medieval and Renaissance art are some of the most important in the world and the new galleries in the V & A museum will display the scale and scope when they are redisplayed in 2009, a long wait for impatient people like me. Some of these galleries include European Masterpieces from 1600-1900.
There is a section dedicated for Asianart and the outstanding collection come from East Asia and sited near the Cast Courts. The displays from South East Asia are at the opposite end of the main corridor, very near the Raphael gallery. The African art collected by the V & A were shifted to the British Museum. V & A has kept exploring all angles of art not confining to one particular school and in its endeavour ever since its foundation inspires more imagination among artists of contemporary works and mainly acquired from the Great Exhibition of 1851. They were among the earliest to enter its collections. The museum has always paid tribute to the living artist and encouraged their virtuosity. After a while this scheme died but the 20th century artifacts were systematically acquired along with contemporary work. Prized articles The objects from the medieval and Renaissance period are some of prized articles of the V & A and they were purchased by the first curators of the Museum during the 1850 and 1860s. The dates are indicated in most of these items. Spread over two floors, and chronologically entered to assist viewers from any point, the British Galleries unfold art and design from 1500 to 1900. These magnificent range from every century. It also displays a complete historic interiors to tiny jewels. The medieval period came to an end as the European perceptions broadened. Arts too had a pause though the time span was short. But artists continued with zest and their works were finally absorbed. Today the V & A is uniquely poised to nuture the creativity of all talented artists through the strength of its collections and exhibitions. Those who step within its portals, come out refreshed with passion and ardour. **** Back **** |
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