One of the things I missed most about lockdown was London’s Victoria & Albert Museum. It has been such an integral part of my cultural life for so long, and I try to pop along as often as I can. Thankfully it has now reopened, albeit in a slightly different but completely covid secure way.
It took me a while to visit after it first reopened, partly due to the new and inevitable booking system. It’s not difficult but it means (like everything these days) a little more planning and less spontaneity than I am used to.
So how was it…..
I made my way along the busy Cromwell Road, pausing to take a few pictures of Brompton Oratory before walking past the familiar steps and grand entrance hall to the V&A. The main entrance has become the main exit, as a one way in and out system is now in place. I confess to always having a little thrill of excitement when arriving at the V&A. The prospect of being surrounded by cultural treasures, coffee in the members room and often the thrill of a new exhibition is always exciting. On this occasion this little thrill of excitement merged up with a little apprehension too. What would my beloved museum be like in this new world we now inhabit?
I arrived a little before my allotted visiting time. Thankfully as it was raining, the stewards let me make my way straight in and the queue was mere moments.
My first and immediate impression was surprise and pleasure at how calm it all was. People made their way in and dispersed quite quickly. A wander through the the coolness of the sculpture galleries was an absolute pleasure. Time to mingle with the statues, appreciating their elegant curves and the coolness of stone and marble felt almost indulgent. As always a few artists sat quietly drawing, making their own interpretations of beauty.
I visited with no agenda, no timetable, just a thirst to be surrounded by art. I looked at everything and nothing. Sometimes stopping to read information, sometimes not. I discovered galleries I had barely been aware of before and I drank it all in.
The galleries filled with gold and silver dazzled and thrilled. I had barely looked at these before. The galleries filled with tapestries on a vast scale were exciting, partly because of the scale of them and partly because I was completely on my own. Apart from the gentle hum of the climate control system, there was no sound besides my soft foot steps as I padded from one impossibly complicated piece of needlework to another.
The collection of paintings at the V&A was an original part of the museum when it was known as the Museum of Ornamental Art before it was renamed in 1857. The galleries of paintings are filled with water colours and oil paintings by artists such as J.M.W Turner and John Constable. Maybe it was because I had been London bound but starved of art galleries for a few months, I don’t know, but I was irresistibly drawn to the bucolic country scenes of these two giants of British art. I walked from one to another, soaking in the beauty and tranquility of the paintings and the peaceful setting in which I was able to enjoy them.
One of the places I love most in the museum is the recreation of the Norfolk House Music room. It’s a spectacular room decorated in the Rococo style of the mid 1700’s with gold leaf on every surface, and elaborate ceiling and wall decoration. This often feels like a secret part of the museum to me. Firstly, because when I discovered it I could hardly believe it was part of the museum, and secondly because there are usually so few people visiting it. I could not resist revisiting this old favourite as I made my way up to the members room for a very British pot of earl grey.
The members room was perhaps the busiest part of the museum, but it was well organised as tables which emptied were efficiently cleaned and refilled. Light streamed through the domed ceiling of this room, face coverings were thankfully removed and the clatter of plates and cutlery was a pleasing nod to normality.
Gone are the groups of children and tour guides and packs of tourists and selfie sticks. The V&A is peaceful and beautiful and everything I want it to be; and it’s open and I can’t wait to go back.
Sounds fabulous! Absolute bliss xx