The Victoria and Albert Museum shares its treasures

Thirty-five awe-inspiring masterpieces dating from A.D. 300 to 1600 are on view at The Metropolitan Museum of Art now through Aug. 17, 2008. The exhibition, titled Medieval and Renaissance Treasures from The Victoria and Albert Museum, includes superb examples of sculpture, metalwork, ceramics and glass that are rarely loaned by the revered London institution. Most have never been exhibited before in New York.

“These are significant works in the history of art. You could write a textbook from them, particularly the medieval ivories and the great Italian Renaissance bronzes,” said Ian Wardropper, chairman of the New York museum’s Department of European Sculpture and Decorative Arts.

Like Indiana Jones in his quest of the Holy Grail, Wardropper was anxious to get his hands on the Victoria and Albert’s treasures.

“The real pleasure was installing them. Getting them out into the space, putting them in the right place and getting the light on them. That’s where the kick comes,” said Wardropper.

Click here to read the complete story in the July 2008 issue of Style Century Magazine.