The Medieval & Renaissance Galleries are home to one of the world's most remarkable collections of treasures from the period. Ranging from delicately carved ivories and intricate metalwork to Leonardo da Vinci's notebooks and powerful sculptures, they tell the story of European art and culture from 300–1600. These galleries have been made possible thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and the generosity of many other donors.
Room 8: Faiths & Empires 300–1250
The William and Eileen Ruddock Gallery explores how Christian art forms developed within the later Roman Empire. Ea…
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Room 9: The Rise of the Gothic 1200–1350
The Dorothy and Michael Hintze Gallery shows the development of the Gothic style in a wider social and cultural con…
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Room 10: Devotion & Display 300–1500
Looking at how religion affected Europeans' daily lives, this gallery shows religious artworks commissioned by town…
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Room 10a: Noble Living 1350–1500
The Françoise and Georges Selz Gallery is devoted to luxury goods found in the households of rich nobles and wealty…
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Rooms 26–27: Sculpture 1300–1600
Rooms 26 and 27 feature a selection of religious sculpture from Germany, the Netherlands, France, Italy, Spain and …
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Room 50: The Renaissance City 1350–1600
The Paul and Jill Ruddock Gallery holds large-scale works, once part of impressive Renaissance buildings, are displ…
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Room 58: Renaissance Style
Henry VIII, a great patron of the arts, spent lavishly on furnishings, paintings, tapestries and silver. Examples o…
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Room 62: Splendour & Society 1500–1600
Including The Foyle Foundation Gallery, this gallery explores various aspects of life and social ritual.…
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Room 63: A World of Goods 1450–1600
The Edwin and Susan Davies examines how design ideas were exchanged within and outside Europe. Objects, sometimes s…
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Room 64: Renaissance Art & Ideas 1400–1550
The Wolfson Gallery explores Renaissance ideas and beliefs, particulary the interest in antiquity and classical pre…
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Room 64a: Donatello & the Making of Art 1400–1500
The Robert H. Smith Gallery holds The V&A's exceptional collection of sculptures by Donatello, the most important a…
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Room 64b: Living with the Past
The Simon Sainsbury Gallery examines the medieval and Renaissance past by bringing together large-scale objects, in…
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Medieval and Renaissance online supported by The Bonita Trust
Learn more about some of the objects and themes in the Medieval & Renaissance Galleries by exploring these interact…
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Music from a missal from the abbey of Saint Denis
The Saint Denis Missal is a beautifully illuminated manuscript from about 1350, on display in the V&A’s Medieval & Renaissance galleries. It contains all the texts and music needed by a priest to celebrate Mass, including particular references to Saint Denis. The Royal College of Music have made an audio recording of Salve Pater Dyonisi (Hail Father Dionysius) – the first time it has ever been recorded.
Encounters: European Merchants and West Africa
This audio was originally made for Room 63 in the V&A's Medieval & Renaissance Galleries. Entitled A World of Goods 1450–1600, the gallery examines how design ideas were exchanged within and outside Europe. Exploration, conflict and diplomacy all played a part, with traditional trade relationships with the Islamic world complemeted by new markets in the Far East and the New World.
Conservation & installation of the Cremona ceiling
The V&A's Sculpture Conservation Team and Museum Technical Services describe how the Cremona ceiling was conserved and prepared for installation in the Medieval & Renaissance Galleries. The domed ceiling, painted in about 1500 by Alessandro Pampurino, was originally located in a ground floor room of the Casa Maffi in Cremona, Italy.
Apocalypse & the Book of Revelation
The apocalypse comes from the Book of Revelation, the last book of the Bible, which describes the final battle between God and Satan – Armageddon. During the medieval period, scenes and images from the Book of Revelation, and the idea of the Apocalypse had a widespread influence on many aspects of culture.
Conservation case studies: Building a frame for 'The Virgin and Child' by Carlo Crivelli
The 'Virgin and Child', by Carlo Crivelli, was acquired unframed by the Museum. It was decided to make a copy of a frame in the V&A collections in order to display the painting appropriately in the Medieval & Renaissance Galleries.
A gift in your will
You may not have thought of including a gift to a museum in your will, but the V&A is a charity and legacies form an important source of funding for our work. It is not just the great collectors and the wealthy who leave legacies to the V&A. Legacies of all sizes, large and small, make a real difference to what we can do and your support can help ensure that future generations enjoy the V&A as much as you have.
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Medieval and Renaissance Galleries Postcard Book
The Medieval and Renaissance Galleries 1300-1600 postcard book
Buy nowEvent - Medieval & Renaissance Tour 11.30
Thu 27 May 2010–Mon 31 December 2012
TOUR: Join this daily one hour tour which introduces the V&A's stunning Medieval & Renaissance Galleries. Starting at the Meeting Point, Grand Entrance at 11.30.
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