british museums

Question 1

Sir John Soane’s Museum (London)

Answer 1

started in the early 19th century
first architectual museum in the world, holds collections and personal artifacts of Sir Soane from between 1780s and 1837
Sir Soane was a prof. of architecture at the Royal Arts Academy, so his neo-classical style was well documented
he designed the Bank of England, parts of the Royal Hospital Chelsea and the Dulwich Picture Gallery

Question 2

Victoria and Albert Museum (London)

Answer 2

established in 1852 (in 1899 Queen Victioria laid foundations for a new part and the museum was now called V&A)
also known as V&A, originally called South Keningston Museum
huge collections of ceramics, glass, textiles, dress, silver, ironwork, jewllery, furniture, sculpture, paintings, prints and photographs
V&A’s (Henry Cole) first director called it a “schoolroom for everyone”

Question 3

British Museum (London)

Answer 3

established in 1753 after the death of Sir Hans Sloane, by King George II
the first national public museum in the world
over 8 million exhibits from around the world, including the Rosetta Stone and Elgin Marble

Question 4

Imperial War Museum Duxford (Cambridgeshire)

Answer 4

set up in 1917 as the remembrance of all aspects of the Great War, suggested by Sir Alfred Mond
first museum opened in London in 1920
IMW Duxford opened in 1976
Airbase in Duxford was built during WWI and served as one of the first RAF stations, where in 1940 Luftwaffe attacks aimed for London were disarmed
known as European centre of aviation history

Question 5

National Railway Museum (Yorkshire)

Answer 5

opened in 1975 in York and in 2004 in Shildon
the York one was the first national public museum otside London and the Shildon one to the northeast
largest railway museum in the world
home to Queen Victoria’s favourite carriage, she called it her palace of wheels

Question 6

Science Museum (London)

Answer 6

separated for the South Kenigston Museum in 1909, thanks to Norman Lockyer
its buliding was designed by Sir Richard Allison
7 floors of exhibits, including the Apollo 10 command module and a Flight Simulator

Question 7

Royal Academy of Arts (London)

Answer 7

established in 1768 for the request of Sir William Chambers to King George III to promote the Arts and Design
in 1867 it setteled at the palladin Burlington House
focuses mainly on art from 18th century until present days, including classics such as Constable and Hockney
hosts the Summer Exhibition, the biggest annual event for over last two centuries

Question 8

National Museum of Scotland (Edinburgh)

Answer 8

established in 1985
the largest multi - disciplinary museum in Scotland
formed from the Royal Scottish Museum and the National Museum of Antiques
collections come from the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, founded in 1780 by David Steuart Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan
in 2011 a 47.7 million pound refit helped the museum to get an award for the “Best Building”

Question 9

Pitt Rivers Museum (Oxford)

Answer 9

founded in 1884
started with the collection of General Pitt Rivers, of about 18.000 objects
now the collection has over half a million exhibits
archeological and ethnographical museum
museum features a cast iron frame, style used in the Crystal Palace and the great railway station

Question 10

Tate Liverpool (Liverpool)

Answer 10

opened in 1988s
founded by Henry Tate, who also opened Tate Britain, Tate Modern and Tate St.Ives, he was and industralist and sugar refiner
beacause there was no more place for his collections in the National Gallery, Tate Liverpool was opened
in 2007 the Turner Prize was hosted there, for the frst time outside London