{"id":17552,"date":"2018-01-24T12:02:02","date_gmt":"2018-01-24T12:02:02","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/?p=17552"},"modified":"2018-01-24T12:23:26","modified_gmt":"2018-01-24T12:23:26","slug":"the-fitzwilliam-cambridge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.thesojournseries.com\/bavaria\/the-fitzwilliam-cambridge\/","title":{"rendered":"Exploring The Fitzwilliam Museum- Cambridge"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Fitzwilliam<\/a><\/p>\n

The Fitzwilliam<\/a> was the first Cambridge Institution we visited as prospective new temporary residents back on that cold Autumn day a little over a year ago.<\/p>\n

\"fitzwilliam<\/a><\/p>\n

Fresh off the plane from Munich, and anxiously awaiting the call to tell us whether we had been successful in our bid for our current rented home, we headed straight there to distract ourselves with a little bit of culture, aided by my ever capable Mama who was in charge of Small People herding.\u00a0 \u00a0The smallest of our group was not altogether that appreciative of the art that day it seemed, but as Granny had wandered slightly off course with the three of them, it was quite easy to pretend we weren’t with them for a few minutes to quietly appreciate the scenery, and just breathe and forget all the changes ahead of us…<\/p>\n

Galleries are always something we have made time for as a family, with a few of the big galleries of Copenhagen and Munich becoming firm family favourites.\u00a0 If you are visiting either of those places in the near future, you need to visit The Glyptotek<\/a> in Copenhagen and Louisiana<\/a> just up the road, and in Munich – The Moderna<\/a> and Neues Pinakothek<\/a> if art is your thing of course (there are countless others to choose from obviously, these were just particular favourites!)…<\/p>\n

\"fitzwilliam<\/a>
Not just the stuff on the walls that’s beautiful here…<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The Fitzwilliam opened in 1848 after the Lord Viscount Fitzwilliam bequeathed his private collection to the University of Cambridge.\u00a0 It’s not enormous, but takes pride in its Finest Small Museum of Europe tag, and is definitely worth putting on any “visit Cambridge” list as it’s not only a beautiful building, it’s home to more than one or two pieces you will most definitely recognise, on top of a stack of other priceless objects…<\/p>\n

\"Fitzwilliam<\/a>
Don’t forget to look up too!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Very recently it played host to a Degas Exhibition, consisting of hundreds of his paintings and drawings, and of course the ever famous “Little Dancer”.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
My then tiny art appreciator<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Long term readers of my blogs might remember when my Small Girl really was tiny, and would insist on taking all manner of art gubbins (usually in some odd handbag) to draw her favourite pieces, leaving me to look like some sort of horrendously pushy parent hanging around in the background…<\/p>\n

\"Little<\/a><\/p>\n

As she was completely into ballet at the time, Degas’ Little Dancer, was a particular favourite, and she would lie on the floor of the Glyptotek drawing this elegant little figure for hours.\u00a0 There are several identical statues dotted about the world which is great, as thanks to her very first spectacular depiction of this particular piece of work, it’s become a very firm favourite of mine too.<\/p>\n

\"Little<\/a>
A slightly surreal interpretation?<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As tends to be the case generally with visiting exhibits and pieces of art that are not owned by galleries themselves, it was strictly a no photo zone, so sadly I wasn’t able to take a picture to re\u00a0acquaint the Small Girl with her old friend as she wasn’t able to join me that day (a few hours in a gallery on my own – a treat currently rarer than hen’s teeth!!)…<\/p>\n

Of course such a popular exhibition meant that part of the museum was packed with everyone heading straight for that alone, but for those of us there for some peace it meant that the rest of the Museum was pretty much empty – bliss!<\/p>\n

\"Fitzwilliam<\/a><\/p>\n

\"Egyptian<\/a><\/p>\n

\"ceramic<\/a><\/p>\n

It’s not all paintings here by the way, there’s masses to inspect from the vast ceramic room tracing the history of just about every breakable object imaginable, to impressive Egyptian rooms,\u00a0 as well as collections of Armoury, Silverware, Prints, Manuscripts, Music, Textiles, and for those of a more gentile nature, a collection of fans from all over the world – plus plenty more besides.<\/p>\n

\"fitzwilliam<\/a><\/p>\n

Talking of breakable ceramics, those of you with excellent memories may remember a few years back that The Fitzwilliam made the news for all the wrong reasons<\/a>, when a visiting gentleman managed to trip over his shoelace on the stairs, knocking three Qing Dynasty Vases (worth around \u00a3500,000) off a ledge and sending them crashing to their deaths below.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0I try to pay close attention to staircases, ledges and podiums and the like on account of my general clumsiness each visit.<\/p>\n

\"henry<\/a>
don’t forget to peek outside too!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Unlike the favourite galleries of our past homes this Gallery doesn’t have excessive dedicated children’s work spaces, but that doesn’t mean to say it isn’t child friendly, quite the opposite in fact.\u00a0 \u00a0The Fitzwilliam runs masses of classes and workshops for all ages, from Family First Saturday’s<\/a> on the first Saturday of each month, where there are free classes and activities of varying themes each month (February being Valentine’s is all about love – obviously!), to Baby Magic classes that feature art found in the gallery and music.\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0It’s very push chair friendly too as my Mum can confirm, although back carriers in case things get knocked off,\u00a0 which given past events is completely understandable…<\/p>\n

\"fitzwilliam<\/a><\/p>\n

I really like the little cafe\/restaurant here, all the food is fresh and homemade, and reasonably priced as Museum fayre goes.\u00a0 It’s not the biggest space in the world however and can get a bit crowded.\u00a0 \u00a0If you find yourself without a table, don’t despair, head over the road to Fitzbillies<\/a> (named in honour of the Museum if you hadn’t worked that one out – it took me a while!!) for a very decent cuppa and one of their very famous Chelsea Buns…\u00a0 A few hours in the gallery followed by one of those?\u00a0 A perfect morning right there!<\/p>\n

\"fitzbillies<\/a><\/p>\n

Entrance to the Fitzwilliam Museum<\/a> is free, but a donation is suggested, and is definitely well deserved.<\/p>\n

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