RETURN TO THE VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM

Having recently visited a few places of interest around West Kensington
last month, I managed to make another visit to The Victoria & Albert Museum.
I particularly wanted to visit a few places and galleries that I hadn't visited
last time round. Naturally I headed straight for the Weston Cast Courts
where all the great statues are housed.
I was also keen to see the spectacular Refreshment Room near the Courtyard
which can be seen further down below.
And that particular Saturday I went out that day proved to be quite fruitful as I
not only visited The V& A. I also made a nearby visit to The Natural History
Museum as well as the spectacular London Brompton Oratory... all of these posts
can be seen on this blog.

Lots more images below.

THE VICTORIA & ALBERT MUSEUM LONDON

Situated (above) in The Weston Cast Court is a cast of
Verrocchio's statue of David after defeating Goliath.
The original work was sculpted in Florence around 1475.

This rather grand and somewhat opulent room is in fact the Museum's
Refreshment Room and Public Cafe. It's also the first Museum in
the world to have a public restaurant.
When these rooms were built back in the 1860's, the intention was
to catch the eye of the visitor as soon as they approached this grand
hall once they entered the building from the Courtyard and garden.

The V&A houses a fine archive collection of photographs. And the one's
in this Gallery are just a few from their huge collection.
There's also a fine display of vintage cameras on show.
I particularly enjoyed some of the vintage 1970's black and
white Rock icon photographs.

THE HISTORY OF PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE V&A

In the outdoor courtyard is the John Madejski Garden
with water fountains. It's a quiet spot for relaxing in
between visiting the Galleries.

Above: The Fall of Phaeton.
Marble  (1700) by Dominique Leferre

Below: The Dying Achilles
Marble (1683) by Christopher Veyrier

Above and below: Some rather fine French decorative art and
furniture of the 18th century.
Objects like these with historical, royal and aristocratic associations
were especially prized. And there seemed to be many of them in this
particular gallery.