Over one week in London and I've managed to not get hit by a bus/car/motorcycle/bicycle. Really this is a feat! Londoners seem like very nice people until they get behind a wheel. I really don't know how people drive around here without getting in accidents all of the time.
Wednesday we spent visiting the Tate Britain. After discovering that the paintings we were assigned to study there had been moved to the Tate Modern we spent the rest of the afternoon exploring the museum. Highlights included Millais's Ophelia, Brockhurst's Duchess of Argyll, some Francis Bacons and a giant Bridget Riley that made my head swim.
Thursday we spent in viewing the Wallace collection of art housed in an old mansion in the center of London. After that we made our way over to the Saatchi Gallery to view some contemporary art. The difference between these two could not have been more extreme. It was really interesting (depressing? exciting? not sure but it has given me a lot of thought) to see the change in 300 years time.
Friday we had a bit of a walking tour along the Thames starting at St. Paul's, crossing the Millennium Bridge and making stops at the Old Globe, Southwark Cathedral and a few other sites of interest. Then we walked back along the river to the Tate Modern and spent the rest of the afternoon browsing their collection. There were so many great works that I would really love to go back before I leave London.
Saturday I went on a bus trip to Oxford with a few other students. It was kind of a last minute thing. We spent the afternoon walking around Oxford, finding old book shops and vintage stores and getting caught in the rain while walking around Christ Church.
Some pictures:
The grand ballroom at the Wallace collection. Rembrandts, Gainsbouroughs and much more.
The oval drawing room at the Wallace collection. Rococo work including Fragonard's Swing.
The Saatchi gallery was a complete contrast.
Richard Wilson's 20:50. An amazing piece involving a room filled with crude oil.
Lecture outside of St. Paul's.
The view from the window of the Tate Modern. Take note of the rainy weather.
Christ Church, Oxford.
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