The Ashmolean Museum in Oxford, England’s oldest museum, was closed most of 2009 for renovations, but has finally reopened.
It was entirely worth the wait, the museum is absolutely gorgeous. It’s modern, with entire wings newly designed with multi-level vantage points as one area looks onto to others on different floors or different areas. There are also several rooms that have maintained the feel of the old museum, but look like they’ve had their paint and paper cleaned up and are now glistening.
Everywhere, glass venues lead you to explore new areas that just never seemed to be there before this renovation. It is absolutely lovely what a perfect job they have done of balancing the museum of the past with bringing it up to date for the 21st century.
I’m in love, again.
A few photos from the visit today…
From a Florentine painting showing the life of Ceasar which I think might be of particular interest to my friend Ross:
The Triumph of Chastity:
One of my favourite images, St Nicholas flying to the rescue of sailors during a storm:
A few other images:
