The Wallace Collection

1. Labels. Wallace Collection

The way in which the Wallace Collection is labeled is different from what you usually see at museums. There aren't white labels in or around the painting to identify the paintings. The labels for paintings are instead engraved on the frames and it's done in such a way that you can't see the label from far away. If you want to see the label, you have to be quite close to the painting. Due to the salon style hanging, the lack of labels saves space and allows space for a lot of paintings.

I think that the titles and artist names do feel more integrated with the art when labeled that way. It feels like the frame is personalized for the painting and it kind of just looks classier. See how the label is not visible in the picture I took of the painting? But when I zoomed into the bottom of the frame, the label is clearly visible. In person, the label is very easy to see as long as you're standing in front of the painting. I found that this was the case for all of the paintings. I had to take separate pictures of the painting and the label.

I think that this type of labeling is appropriate for the Wallace Collection because it is a highly stylish and decadent collection of art, furniture and armory. The addition of white labels would have detracted from the artistic stylishness of the paintings, the furniture, and the rooms. The absence of the white labels on the walls creates an impression that this is how a really grand home of an aristocratic family would've looked way back when and that's pretty cool for the collection visitors.

  

2. Object of Appreciation. Wallace Collection

The entire Wallace Collection was very impressive and aesthetically pleasing to see. There are so many objects to appreciate that my object of appreciation changed as I went through the exhibit. As I was on my way out, I happened to see these delicate, gorgeously detailed snuff boxes and I fell in love! They were so colorful and pretty. Initially, I thought that they were jewelry boxes but then I realized they were too small to hold more than a couple of earrings or rings. These snuff boxes are just delightful little pieces of art. I want one so bad!!!

3. Object of Excessive details/ornamentation Wallace Collection

Considering the decadence of many of the items in the Wallace Collection, it wasn't too difficult to pick out excessively detailed or ornamented items. However, to pick the item that for me was viscerally, personally the most distasteful was a bit trickier to do because I enjoyed most of the excessively decorated and lavish things in the collection. 

However, when I saw this writing desk, I was delighted because I knew that it would be my object of excessive details/ornamentation. It was just too much for my taste! Gaudy gaudy gaudy and overdone.

 From the front.

 Elaborate candle holder. 

 Really nice clock. But does it really need to be gold?! 

Side view. 

 View from behind. 

The clock has TWO faces because you need to be able to tell the time when standing behind, of course!

 All in all, this writing desk was just too much. I'm sure this must've been owned by some aristocrat because it could have probably fed a poor family for years back in the 1700s!

4. Favorite Museum

It's hard to pick one museum considering London has so many great and free museums. But I suppose I have a soft spot for the Victoria and Albert Museum and the British Museum. Call me crazy, but the humorous incident with that Asian girl who followed us at our very first visit to the British Museum will stay in my memory of this study abroad program forever. It's just one of those ridiculous incidents that stays with you because of how harmless it was and how much it bothered all of us. I didn't think I would be the type of person who would be bothered by that sort of thing, but I was super annoyed when it was happening! If looks can kill, that girl would've been dead considering the amount of Badger Death Glares she was on the receiving end of! *sigh* Great LOL moment! How horrible. The most memorable museum experience didn't even involve art, but rather just a person to person interaction. 

As for the V&A, I've been there three times and I could've gone back a forth. I love it. They don't have the most famous pieces of art, but there's a variety in their collection, something for everyone. I would definitely recommend the British Museum for people who like history and world cultures and the V&A for people who like a mixture of sculptures, clothing/costume, and artifacts. And jewelry too! Their jewelry room was AMAZING and any woman would love it.

5. Museum Interest

I loved museums before I came to London, but it wasn't something that I thought about often. I went to the Milwaukee Public Museum once in the 2nd grade. I've been to the Chazen 3 or 4 times during my 5 years of undergrad. And I've been to the Metropolitan Museum of Art once in New York (I LOVED this museum). So I knew I enjoyed museums, but I had no idea how accessible museums would be in London. It is one of the greatest things about London, hands down. 

As a result of this course, I have an interest to continue visiting museums where I can. Madison, Milwaukee, Chicago, here I come! I was intimidated by art before this course (and still am) because I was never so interested in art that I could throw out names like "I really appreciate the colors that So-So uses in her work," etc etc. I just knew what I liked and what I didn't. I never wanted to share my opinion in case it was "wrong" or "misinformed." But I feel more comfortable with art now. I would say that I was previously intimidated by art, but fascinated by it at the same time. Now, I am less intimidated by art and by museums. I don't have to know big names in the art world. I don't have to know the period the piece came from. I just need to continue to nurture my love for art. 

Do I have a greater interest in museum branding? Um, no. Sorry, but I don't! There are exceptions, but most museums go the safe route and are very plain and bland with their brands and truth me told, that's fine with me because I'm more interested in what's on the inside. If word of mouth takes me to a museum, I could care less if their logo is lame and uninteresting.

6. Any additional comments

You said to me when I met you at the study abroad fair that this class was going to be all about fun and visiting museums and you more than fulfilled what you promised. Thank you for the wonderful museum experiences. It was everything I could've wished for and as a lover of museums, I feel like I am more aware and appreciative of museums as a result of this course.