Seeing Great Works of Art -- Tudor, Greek, Assyrian, Anglo-Saxon

July 3

Here is a slide show of what I saw in the British Museum. But scroll further down for a description of a day of walking and sight-seeing.



Tomorrow I go to Cambridge for my week there, but now I wonder if my suitcase will close. I have bought so many presents that it is already bulging. I wonder too if it will be less than 50 pounds. I am going to have to keep an eye out for smaller and lighter presents.

Today was a busy day. Let me list the sites:
1. St. Margaret Church next to Westminster Abbey
2. The National Portrait Gallery
3. The British Museum
4. Kensington Gardens
5. Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain
6. The Albert Pub for fish and chips

St. Margaret’s tomb was most interesting for the various 16th century memorials – in particular one for Cornelius van Dun who managed to remain a warden of the guard through 4 separate, successive monarchies beginning with Henry VIII and ending with Elizabeth I. He must have been totally apolitical to survive all 4 reigns in that place of honor. Or else without a brain.

Also there is the body of Sir Walter Raleigh – they brought that there after he was beheaded for displeasing James I. He could not stop raiding the Spanish. Thomas Seymour (d. 1600) is there with his wife. I wonder if he is Jane Seymour’s brother. I must check on that.

After that I strolled (rather walked fast because I had set myself a tight time line) to the National Portrait Gallery. I had little use for most of the galleries except the Tudor gallery and the Romantic gallery and the contemporary gallery. Courtesy of the London Pass, I received a guidebook and took copious notes in that which I will render later. The definite highlight of the Tudor Gallery was the portrait of Catherine Parr. Maybe this is because hers was among the first I saw after the portrait of the 5 generations of Sir Thomas More’s family. But Catherine Parr’s portrait was beautifully rendered in the detail of the brush work on the furs, the lace, and the brocade. Her face was lovely and serene. By this portrait I can see why Henry married after the turbulence of his previous wife.

Also in the museum, I saw a painting of Diana, which was done during her engagement to Prince Charles. It was hung next to a portrait of hm. Both paintings were of equal size. I wonder why….but only her portrait was shown in the guidebook.

I could not find a recent portrait of J.K. Rowling. But from the picture in the guidebook it looked odd. She is seated on a chair in a room out of perspective. Now is that because of the originality of the conception of the wizarding world?

I next went to see the British Museum shepherded by the guide of London Walks. I only listened to less than half of the talk because it was old knowledge – mostly. I did learn a couple of things about the Elgin marbles. But it was useful as a quick orientation to this incredible museum. Among the treasures we were taken to were:
• Elgin Marbles
• Sutton Hoo helmet
• the chess men of Lewis
• the Rosetta Stone
• the lion hunt from Nineveh
I took out early and tried to get to Kensington Palace before it closed admission at 5 pm. I did not make it, but had a lovely walk through the garden and then through the park. I spend at least an hour watching children play and walk in the Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial fountain. I put my feet in its cold water and only left when everyone else was evicted by the guards.

Then I walked through the Garden past Buckingham Palace and down Buckingham Gate Road to the Albert Pub for another fish and chips dinner. I shall tour London and England sampling each pub’s fish and chips! Instead of beer, I had a glass of white wine.

Then back to the quiet B & B hosted by the old Italian man (his wife had heart trouble 3 months ago when she was visiting Italy and is still there).