The British Museum, London - Jan 2024 (15)A
Museums - The British Museum
The British Museum was founded as a ‘Universal Museum’. Its beginnings are bequeathed from the will of Sir John Sloane. He amassed 71,000 items, manuscripts, books and many natural history items. He has a statue in the London Physic Garden, Chelsea.
In 1753 King George II gave his Royal Assent to build the Museum, the body of trustees chose Montagu House for its location. This was purchased from the family for £20,000. Ironically Buckingham Palace was rejected as being too expensive and the location, unsuitable.
The first exhibition for scholars was opened in January 1759. In those early days, the Library took up the whole of the ground floor, the first floor a large part was taken up by the Natural History collection.
In 1763 the Natural History collection was reclassified using the Linnaean System, after Carl Linnaeus, famous Swedish botanist. This made the Museum a centre of learning for European natural history scholars.
In the oncoming years there were many new additions particularly in the Library, David Garrick plays (approx. 1000) were one example but it wasn’t until 1772 when the first real quantities of antiques were purchased. This was the collection of Greek vases from Sir William Hamilton. More items came into the Museum. In 1778 objects from Capt. Cooks round-the-world voyages were brought back and donated. By the early 1800’s it was clear that further growth was not possible, furthermore there were signs of decrepitude and overcrowding.
In 1802 a building committee was set up. The upshot was that the Old Montague House was demolished and work began on the new building in 1823. It’s original intention was for a Library and Picture Gallery but this was changed because another new gallery was commissioned in 1824 (The National Gallery). So this building now housed the Natural History collection, the building work was completed in 1831.
Whilst this building work was going on items still came into the museum. In 1802 King George presented the Museum with the Rosetta Stone, (this was the key that opened the lock to deciphering hieroglyphs). In this period from 1802 – 1820 there were many gifts and purchases of Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian sculpture.
Because of the overwhelming number of objects coming into the museum, it was decided to move the whole of the natural history collection to The Natural History Museum in Kensington. In 1847 over 20,000 books were bequeathed by Sir Thomas Grenville (former trustee). These arrived in horse-draws carts, all 20 of them.
From 1840 – 1900 there were many new sources of objects coming into the Museum. Partial Tombs from ancient Lycia, more Assyrian artefacts from excavations, a valuable collection of antiquities belonging to the Duke of Blacas, (this collection the French government at the time refused to buy so instead it was sold to the Museum for FFr1.2m in 1867). In 1881 came a collection of armour, from William Burges and in 1897 another bequest, this time of Finger rings, drinking vessels, porcelain, Japanese inro and netsuke from A. W. Franks, curator and collector.
More pressure for room for the ever expanding collection culminated in the purchase of 69 surrounding houses. The first stage of construction began in 1906.
Over the years there have been many changes to the internal rooms in the museum itself. The Classical and Near East, The Duveen Gallery which was destroyed during WWII, now bought back to its best.
Notable additions to the museum include in 1939 ‘The Sutton Hoo’ treasures from the Anglo Saxon burial ship. In 1972 The Tutankhamun Treasures exhibition attracted over 1.6 million people. Also in that year Parliament passed a resolution to establish a British Library. This was a real necessity as 1.25 miles of new shelving was needed to house the books coming into the Museum on a yearly basis. However it wasn’t until 1997 that the books actually left. Redevelopment of the space took place and was opened in 2000 as the ‘Queen Elizabeth II Great Court’.
From those original days of 1753, the British Museum has 13 million items, The natural History Museum 70 million and the British Library has 150 million. An impressive collection of items. I have merely scratched the surface. Definitely worth the visit and don’t forget, it’s F R E E.
The British Museum, London - Jan 2024 (15)A
Museums - The British Museum
The British Museum was founded as a ‘Universal Museum’. Its beginnings are bequeathed from the will of Sir John Sloane. He amassed 71,000 items, manuscripts, books and many natural history items. He has a statue in the London Physic Garden, Chelsea.
In 1753 King George II gave his Royal Assent to build the Museum, the body of trustees chose Montagu House for its location. This was purchased from the family for £20,000. Ironically Buckingham Palace was rejected as being too expensive and the location, unsuitable.
The first exhibition for scholars was opened in January 1759. In those early days, the Library took up the whole of the ground floor, the first floor a large part was taken up by the Natural History collection.
In 1763 the Natural History collection was reclassified using the Linnaean System, after Carl Linnaeus, famous Swedish botanist. This made the Museum a centre of learning for European natural history scholars.
In the oncoming years there were many new additions particularly in the Library, David Garrick plays (approx. 1000) were one example but it wasn’t until 1772 when the first real quantities of antiques were purchased. This was the collection of Greek vases from Sir William Hamilton. More items came into the Museum. In 1778 objects from Capt. Cooks round-the-world voyages were brought back and donated. By the early 1800’s it was clear that further growth was not possible, furthermore there were signs of decrepitude and overcrowding.
In 1802 a building committee was set up. The upshot was that the Old Montague House was demolished and work began on the new building in 1823. It’s original intention was for a Library and Picture Gallery but this was changed because another new gallery was commissioned in 1824 (The National Gallery). So this building now housed the Natural History collection, the building work was completed in 1831.
Whilst this building work was going on items still came into the museum. In 1802 King George presented the Museum with the Rosetta Stone, (this was the key that opened the lock to deciphering hieroglyphs). In this period from 1802 – 1820 there were many gifts and purchases of Roman, Greek, Egyptian, Assyrian and Babylonian sculpture.
Because of the overwhelming number of objects coming into the museum, it was decided to move the whole of the natural history collection to The Natural History Museum in Kensington. In 1847 over 20,000 books were bequeathed by Sir Thomas Grenville (former trustee). These arrived in horse-draws carts, all 20 of them.
From 1840 – 1900 there were many new sources of objects coming into the Museum. Partial Tombs from ancient Lycia, more Assyrian artefacts from excavations, a valuable collection of antiquities belonging to the Duke of Blacas, (this collection the French government at the time refused to buy so instead it was sold to the Museum for FFr1.2m in 1867). In 1881 came a collection of armour, from William Burges and in 1897 another bequest, this time of Finger rings, drinking vessels, porcelain, Japanese inro and netsuke from A. W. Franks, curator and collector.
More pressure for room for the ever expanding collection culminated in the purchase of 69 surrounding houses. The first stage of construction began in 1906.
Over the years there have been many changes to the internal rooms in the museum itself. The Classical and Near East, The Duveen Gallery which was destroyed during WWII, now bought back to its best.
Notable additions to the museum include in 1939 ‘The Sutton Hoo’ treasures from the Anglo Saxon burial ship. In 1972 The Tutankhamun Treasures exhibition attracted over 1.6 million people. Also in that year Parliament passed a resolution to establish a British Library. This was a real necessity as 1.25 miles of new shelving was needed to house the books coming into the Museum on a yearly basis. However it wasn’t until 1997 that the books actually left. Redevelopment of the space took place and was opened in 2000 as the ‘Queen Elizabeth II Great Court’.
From those original days of 1753, the British Museum has 13 million items, The natural History Museum 70 million and the British Library has 150 million. An impressive collection of items. I have merely scratched the surface. Definitely worth the visit and don’t forget, it’s F R E E.