Victoria and Albert Museum

The Victoria and Albert Museum is a wonderfully vast and expansive museum that is incredibly unique and exhilarating. The galleries are huge and contain a wide variety of beautiful objects that surprise and engage anyone when encountering them. Named after Queen Victoria and her beloved husband Albert, the museum was established to honor them. Not only does it honor the memory of such remarkable historical figures, it also is a supreme showcase of the British endeavors to encapsulate human culture and significance. One primary example of this can be found with a very specific example--the Portland Vase. Based on an ancient Greek vase housed in the British Museum, Josiah Wedgwood created his signature version of the Portland Vase in the late 1700's, which is housed at the V&A (see below). 

I was amazed by encountering two huge atriums filled with cast copies of ancient sculptures, called the Cast Courts. The most predominant object, actually two objects, since it's split in half, is Trajan's Column. From huge to miniature, the V&A had galleries for painting, decorative arts, a whole section for theatrical set models and costumes, along with a gallery for elaborate tapestries. An additional remarkable feature of the museum is the beautiful cafe, designed by William Morris and his company. Morris' linear nature-inspired motifs adorn the walls surrounding museum visitors and even decorated the carts for food trays.

The V&A is truly a remarkable place. It was incredible spending a morning inside such a wonderful institution.