| INTRODUCTION | EXHIBITION | VISITING | EVENTS | CONSERVATION | AT THE V&A | LINKS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SCULPTURE COLLECTION AT THE V&A The collection of European post-classical sculpture in the Victoria and Albert Museum is the most comprehensive in the world. It is the national Collection of Sculpture and forms an integral part of the museum. The links between sculpture and the decorative arts - especially Metalwork, Ceramics and Woodwork - play an important part and it's holdings therefore include far more than simply figure work. It is no exaggeration to say that the collection of sculptors' models in terracotta, undoubtedly the finest and largest in the world, would not have come about outside the context of this particular Museum. The sculpture collection is as old as the Museum itself, the first acquisition dating to 1844. A key figure was John Charles (later Sir Charles) Robinson (1824-1913), the Superintendent of the Art Collections at South Kensington and first curator, who was responsible for laying the foundations of the collection. He purchased the Gherardini and Gigli-Campana Collections in 1854 and 1861, which included a substantial number of Italian sculptures, many in terracotta. Since those early days, the collection has grown significantly, and includes the most important Italian Renaissance sculpture collection outside Italy. Special displays have been set up to complement Earth and Fire in the main entrance (until 9 May 2002) and Gallery 50B1, and Italian sculpture can be seen in various galleries throughout the Museum. Advance bookings
available |
||
