Art in London

Art in London
By: Patrick Smith

London has always been one of the most well known cities in the world. A culturally rich city, London is visited by millions each year. Currently London has
several fascinating and unique art exhibits on display, one of the most impressive being a collection of Michelangelo drawings at the British Museum.
This exhibit is entitled, “Closer to the Master” and is on display from March 23rd until June 25th.

This spectacular exhibit displays an incredible selection of one the world’s all-time best Renaissance artists. It draws together various pieces from several
other museums, creating an entirely unique collection. It brings together pieces of Michelangelo’s work that have never been seen together before and that
have been separated since the dispersion of Michelangelo’s studio during the mid 1500’s. The exhibit displays pieces in chronological order and emphasizes
connections between various pieces as well as the importance of various drawings.

Several of the drawings included show the meticulous forethought Michelangelo had in making many of his famous pieces, including paintings, sculptures,
and architectures. It is made apparent how he spent hours perfecting every element of a project on paper before he began the actual work itself. Along with
the various drawings several paintings and sculptures are also on exhibit on loan from the National Gallery. Several letters written by Michelangelo himself
are also on loan from the British Library, offering unique insight into Michelangelo’s persona, showing his complex and petulant character. Among all these
drawings are several pieces that stand out more than others as far as their significance. These more notable pieces include; the Study for Adam from the
Sistine Chapel, studies for the figure of Day from the Medici Tombs, Flying Angels from the Last Judgement and his final and slightly disturbing Crucifixions.

The London exhibit is open daily from 10 am until 5:30 pm and runs on a timed-ticket entry. The latest time of entry is 4:40 pm, however it is open late on
Thursdays and Fridays (until 8:30 pm with the latest entry at 7:40). The cost of entry is £10 for adults and £5 to £9 for concessions. Tickets are available
directly at the box office however it is recommended that you book in advance so as to ensure admission alone and also to be able to schedule your
admission time. The British Museum is located on Great Russell Street, WC1 and is most easily accessible from the tube (subway) stations at Tottenham
Court Road or at Russell Square.

This exhibit in London is exceedingly captivating and will provide memories to last a lifetime. This is certainly one of the most unique exhibitions you will
ever have the opportunity to see and its ability to bring together various aspects of Michelangelo’s life is said to be unreal. If you are an aficionado of
Michelangelo’s this exhibit is a must and even for those less knowledgeable in art this exhibit is highly enjoyable. This is a must see for anyone who
is remotely interested in Renaissance art. If you are going to see only one art exhibit in London all year this is definitely the one to see!
Now, if you are planning to visit other countries in Europe visit http://galeon.com/freebies/index.htm and choose your next visit to this continent....

London: 10 Things You Absolutely Must See Or Do In

If you're an infrequent visitor to London and plan to hit the
tourist trail then the last thing you'll want is to be pointed
in the direction of the underwhelming, the uninspiring or the
instantly forgettable. There's enough of that where you live,
which is why you're visiting London!

Our guide features London's best galleries, museums, landmarks,
historical sites, shopping areas and entertainment zones, all
guaranteed to provide the ultimate London tourist experience.
The attractions we've highlighted are unashamedly well known,
but do you really want to be returning home to tell your friends
about the fantastic thimble shop in Pimlico you visited? Or
would you rather rave about the phenomenal view of one of the
world's great cities from the top of The Eye, or that you've
actually seen the beauty of Van Gogh's Sunflowers with your own
eyes?
London has a multitude of varied and exciting attractions but
these are the ones without which, your trip just wouldn't be the
same!

Oxford Street Britain's busiest high street and London's
best known shopping area is chock-a-block full of the largest
branches of the nation's most popular shops - over 300 in fact.
Many of the biggest high street names have their flagship stores
here and the street also boasts the oldest record shop in the
world (HMV at number 363). It's not all hardcore shopping though
- light entertainment is often provided in the form of chanting
Hari Krishnas skipping along the pavement. If you can't find
what you want to buy in Oxford Street, you haven't got much of a
hope elsewhere. oxfordstreet.co.uk/home.html. Nearest
Tubes: Marble Arch, Bond Street, Oxford Circus, and Tottenham
Court Road

Camden Market If you're after a more bohemian approach to
shopping than the Oxford Street experience, then get yourself up
to Camden. One of London's coolest areas has a seemingly endless
array of shops and stalls selling such items as clothing (new,
second hand and retro), customised Doc Martins and trainers,
jewellery, bootleg CDs and DVDs and craft ware. Open daily; it's
a multi cultural experience with some great little food outlets
dotted all over.

Tower of London Built by Billy The Conqueror nearly a
thousand years ago, this is one of the best preserved and most
famous historic landmarks in the world. Full of the history of
executions and imprisonments and offering the spectacle of the
Beefeaters, the ravens and the crown jewels as well as the
majesty of the building itself, this remains THE essential place
of historic interest to visit when in London.
camelotintl.com/tower_site/index.html. Nearest Tube:
Tower Hill.

St. Paul's Cathedral Britain's best known place of
worship and certainly one of its most recognisable buildings,
having so often been the centrepiece of state occasions. The
cathedral was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and built 300
years ago following the destruction of the previous building by
the Great Fire Of London. An awe inspiring feat of architecture,
steeped in history and featuring works of art, monuments,
mosaics and the Whispering Gallery, the Cathedral is also still
a busy working church. So booking your wedding here during the
summer months might just be a bit tricky.
stpauls.co.uk. Nearest Tube: St Pauls

National Gallery The National Gallery is home to one of
the greatest collections of European art in the world. Featuring
works painted between 1250 and 1900, the collection includes
such well known pieces as Van Gogh's Sunflowers, Botticelli's
Venus And Mars and Constable's Hay Wain. Sadly, the work of the
great Rolf Harris is too recent and too Australian to be
included - see the Tate Modern.
nationalgallery.org.uk/default.htm. Nearest Tube:
Charing Cross. Admission: Free

British Museum Founded over 250 years ago, it could be
said that the British Museum is one of London's oldest and most
prized exhibits - the museum building itself is one of Britain's
greatest architectural landmarks. Housed inside is a collection
of art and antiquities from ancient and living cultures the
world over spanning two million years featuring the Rosetta
Stone, the Easter Island statue and the earliest known image of
Christ. thebritishmuseum.ac.uk. Nearest Tubes:
Tottenham Court Road, Goodge Street, Russell Square & Holborn.
Admission: Free

London Eye Undoubtedly the quickest way to take in all of
London's major attractions is by jumping on the Eye. There's not
much of the city that can't be seen from the top of what has
become one of the London skyline's most dominating features. To
further enhance your flight on this modern day feat of
engineering, you can even order champagne to be served in your
capsule (not recommended for the easily nauseas).
londoneye.com. Nearest Tubes: Waterloo &
Westminster.

Tate Modern If random blobs of paint on canvas and piles
of rusty old engine parts is your idea of art, then get yourself
down to the Tate Modern. Created in a disused power station on
the banks of the Thames, the gallery has become one of London's
most fascinating attractions since opening in 2000. The
collection features works by Picasso, Matisse, Dali, Pollock and
Warhol and represents all the major movements since 1900. Sadly,
the work of the great Rolf Harris is too art like to be included
- see the National Gallery.tate.org.uk/modern/.
Nearest Tubes: Southwark & Blackfriars. Admission: Free (however
donations are gratefully received)

Covent Garden Formerly a fruit and vegetable market, 'The
Garden' is now a constant and varied hive of activity. It has a
hugely diverse selection of shops, eateries, bars, a market
selling art, crafts, antiques and souvenirs, historic buildings,
theatres, the Royal Opera House and fantastic free entertainment
provided by street entertainers and musicians. If you can't find
something to capture your interest at Covent Garden then you
must be harder to please than Simon Cowell on a bad day.
coventgarden.uk.com. Nearest Tube: Covent Garden.

Trafalgar Square Undoubtedly one of the most famous
sights of London without visiting which, a trip to the capital
would be incomplete. Not only are tourists drawn to see Nelsons
Column, the fountains, the lions, the annual gift of a huge
Christmas tree from Norway and the pigeons (dirty little so and
sos), but it is where the masses flock to in times of national
celebration or when there is cause to demonstrate. Trafalgar
Square truly is the meeting place of the nation. Nearest Tube:
Charing Cross.