London Calling, part 2
9 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Saturday, February 7, 2009 at 2/07/2009 06:00:00 PM.![](https://resources.blogblog.com/img/icon18_edit_allbkg.gif)
Part 2: Extreme V&A-ing
The Victoria and Albert Museum is the world's largest museum of decorative arts and design, housing a permanent collection of over 4.5 million objects. Named after Prince Albert and Queen Victoria, it was founded in 1852, and has since grown to now cover some 12.5 acres and 145 galleries. Its collection spans 5000 years of art, from ancient times to the present day, in virtually every medium.
Its collections of ceramics, glass, textiles, costumes, silver, ironwork, jewellery, furniture, medieval objects, sculpture, prints and printmaking, drawings and photographs are among the largest and most comprehensive in the world. The museum possesses the world's largest collection of post-classical sculpture, the holdings of Italian Renaissance items are the largest outside Italy. The departments of Asia include art from South Asia, China, Japan, Korea and the Islamic world. The East Asian collections are among the best in Europe, with particular strengths in ceramics and metalwork, while the Islamic collection, alongside the Louvre and the Met in NY, is amongst the largest in the world. So you can bet there was lots of stuff to take pics of.
And here we start off our journey into the arts
![DSC01904](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3317/3260064303_3715bedcc8.jpg)
Thurloe Square with its beautiful row houses
![DSC01906](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3410/3260892136_0daee2089e.jpg)
Heading for the entrance now
![DSC01907](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3322/3260896372_b20b1e3da1.jpg)
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![DSC01912](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3380/3260893946_e2730b25e2.jpg)
The courtyard with a video art installation
![DSC01915](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3322/3260898806_7b7bd6e6b0.jpg)
![DSC01916](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3260897844_789005d278.jpg)
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![DSC01918](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3520/3260899488_13ddfa08e5.jpg)
A lightpiece by Zaha Hadid
![DSC01913](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3414/3260900136_6d4c819d69.jpg)
![DSC01914](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3530/3260900726_a4718bd2db.jpg)
The fashion department
![DSC01924](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3446/3260901710_9d5f2f8ec5.jpg)
the shoes
![DSC01927](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3458/3260073379_a3b5666fe8.jpg)
![DSC01928](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3524/3260903146_1dbd1bb682.jpg)
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![DSC01929](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3490/3260902830_3620c7c79f.jpg)
the bustier bustier
![DSC01921](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3376/3260901210_30df2877cf.jpg)
Lady Diana's pearl dress
![DSC01931](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3260074767_b2acedb6db.jpg)
![DSC01932](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3478/3260075349_e20be45bff.jpg)
the fashionable gentleman from yesteryear
![DSC01933](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3260/3260904814_6cdc19e764.jpg)
a selection of frenchness:
![DSC01934](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3499/3260076235_2ec7cd47dc.jpg)
A Thierry Mugler evening dress from 99/2000
![DSC01935](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3305/3260076719_02ed0e4fd5.jpg)
A Pierre Cardin dress from 1970
![DSC01937](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3402/3260906050_e55e7fe4be.jpg)
A Christobal Balenciaga ensemble from 1967
![DSC01939](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3265/3260906488_b0cf31e40d.jpg)
Delacroix 1996
![DSC01942](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3492/3260907234_b3a978f120.jpg)
A river of rhinestones
![DSC01945](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3343/3260079037_91798aa56b.jpg)
I want one of these
![DSC01946](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3374/3260908514_fe7dd1fb4a.jpg)
A masquerade ball costume from Tzar Nocolas II from 1903
![DSC01947](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3463/3260909132_da7cc89b09.jpg)
![DSC01948](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3450/3260081453_e7bb018c4a.jpg)
The new design room
![DSC01953](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3472/3260910924_1e1ff6bcc8.jpg)
books..gah
![DSC01955](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3486/3260082951_587b3087f8.jpg)
I love this piece
![DSC01956](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3347/3260083429_ffec32bd55.jpg)
Would you like fries with that?
![DSC01957](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3268/3260912952_4e6d5c3564.jpg)
I can't believe they don't sell those no more
![DSC01958](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3448/3260084589_b111358265.jpg)
I snap therefore I am
![DSC01960](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3344/3260913956_a9e5b08122.jpg)
Communist collector items
![DSC01962](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3404/3260085689_40e599bae8.jpg)
Ron Arad
![DSC01963](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3341/3260086159_7f3e471e96.jpg)
Period room
![DSC01964](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3324/3260086833_1962bc9a00.jpg)
Victorian
![DSC01967](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3308/3260916334_17b3b8c5c0.jpg)
regencyesque
![DSC01965](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3430/3260917012_e59c1e95bd.jpg)
neobaroque
![DSC01966](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3426/3260917452_02d895ed76.jpg)
victorian items
![DSC01968](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3452/3260917982_79e85239c2.jpg)
victorian victoria portrait
![DSC01972](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3510/3260918588_618a4996ba.jpg)
chandelier by Dale Chihuly
![DSC01978](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3524/3260919414_748280497e.jpg)
a bit dusty
![DSC01981](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3485/3260920272_23575840a1.jpg)
![003](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3421/3260092741_a8dd3b8ac8.jpg)
![005](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3366/3260093623_3e085632ed.jpg)
ropes
![012](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3496/3260094833_4e1f22c425.jpg)
renovation
![014](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3300/3260095955_76046ff5fd.jpg)
The architecture department and its plan collection
![DSC01985](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3469/3260925422_c130c46370.jpg)
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![DSC01984](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3412/3260926328_a1b075bff5.jpg)
This St Paul's drawing reminds me of my cathedral project
![017](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3390/3260927794_364c0f23d8.jpg)
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the former lecture room of the British Library in the British Museum courtyard
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Bauhaus
![042](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3443/3260955850_59dde8b504.jpg)
![045](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3479/3260957102_a30936b147.jpg)
Sullivan gates
![DSC01986](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3458/3260129523_6f2dc4a9fa.jpg)
a vase at the glassware department
![052](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3318/3260959088_780e096ecf.jpg)
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the renaissance cast sculpture halls under renovation
![DSC01987](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3411/3260961982_d7732a9864.jpg)
![DSC01988](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/3260962576_cb7749548e.jpg)
a condottiere in pieces
![DSC01989](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3381/3260134901_e8ceeb2ab2.jpg)
hello David
![DSC01992](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3386/3260965266_aef3af541f.jpg)
Hi Trajan Column
![DSC01995](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3491/3260966002_df5a33dcec.jpg)
and more stuff
![DSC01999](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3494/3260138153_dbced51679.jpg)
the ceilings of the silverware galleries
![DSC02001](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3389/3260967500_90f528c0bd.jpg)
![DSC02003](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3462/3260139615_4d3ee1c35e.jpg)
![DSC02006](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/3260140057_d9a4d5ea51.jpg)
somewhat Versace
![DSC02011](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3260140971_632665881c.jpg)
![DSC02012](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3471/3260141753_fa1e68762b.jpg)
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![DSC02018](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3345/3260143849_e79d344ebc.jpg)
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![DSC02021](http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3473/3260972924_81b7678c07.jpg)
Labels: London, MUSEUMS, photography
Magnificant, as always. Really loved the fashion photos.
These are all breathtaking.
stunned...
Bourjour! Cedric,
Toutes les photos de Londres sont très, très, beau!
Merci! Beaucoup!
You had me at the shoes. Fantastic. What kind of camera do you use? You take beautiful photos.
cool. =O i can't wait till i'm in london.
=]
omg...now this blog entry must be one of the best I have seen so far!
Merci pur les photos (did I spell that OK?)
take care
peace and love
xoxo
Lovely post...wow, and all the dresses and costumes ar just divine !
London looks amazing, and your photos are beautiful! May I ask what camera you use?