Our Life in London, Our Life in History

We live in London this year, which is a city with many layers of history:  Roman London, Medieval London, Tudor/Stuart London (which we studied in school!), 18th century London, Victorian London (among our favorites!), and of course modern London.  Over the year, we have many chances to "see" history--as we walk around the city, visit  museums, celebrate funny holidays, and more!  Here are some examples:

I:  On a dark Friday evening in early March, Mom and I hustled to the V&A (as usual), where we met Dad.  After our "snack," Dad and I went to look at some galleries which are normally closed off (for renovations); they are the "Europe 1600-1800" rooms.  We saw some amazing, priceless things made of precious stones (such as amber), wood (pear wood and ebony, for example), pearls, shells, rock crystal, gold, silver, ivory, and bronze.  There was even a spinet (small piano) with little, fragile decoration and about a THOUSAND precious stones; and an ivory, amber, and wood alter with a calendar on the back.  We also played a game where I guessed what some pear wood and stone figures were:  Abraham sacrificing Isaac (which I got right)!  Next we went to the "Cast Courts," which has plaster replicas of famous historical things:  statues, tombs, pieces of architecture, and so on.  One of things we saw was Trajan's Column (we saw the real thing in Rome a few weeks later!), which we looked at from a balcony above.  On our way out, we noticed some mosaics floors, which cover the cast courts (they were renovating these).  A guard standing nearby explained that these had been done by women prisoners, and, in the 19th century when the V&A was built, it was considered an honor to be allowed to work on this project.  I've said it before and I'll say it again:  I love the V & A!

Spinet made in Milan by Annibale Rossi (1577) from cypress (case and soundboard), with boxwood and ivory ornaments, inlaid with pearls, amethysts, lapis lazuli, jasper, agate, turquoise and other precious and semi-precious stones:  phew!

II:  Whilst in London, we have been cooking a lot of traditional British food:  bangers in mash (sausages and potatoes), colcannon (an Irish dish with potatoes, cabbage, and onions), haggis (see blog on Robert Burns Supper), Eton mess (a dessert made with berries and cream) red slump (berries and doughy pastry), and so on.  This week, it was shepherd's (or cottage) pie.  Shepherd's (or cottage) pie is a dish with minced meat, vegetables, and a crust of mashed potatoes.   We prepared as follows:  On Saturday, Dad and I got veggies from Tony, and then we went to get minced meat from our favorite local butcher, where they always play reggae (and, on the way home, also got a falafel).  Later that evening, I helped Dad to make it:  mincing meat and other vegetables on the "hob," boiling and mashing potatoes, and finally layering and baking the pie.  I got super excited when it came out of the oven—and it tasted delicious!

Shepherd's Pie:  Don't you wish you could have a slice?!

III:  That Sunday was a bright morning, and I took my usual run with Dad in Hyde Park.  On the run, we looked at the Anish Kapoor sculptures, which had been installed specially in Kensington Gardens.  They had been around since the Fall, but were scheduled to be taken down after that weekend, and we wanted to get one last look.  We looked carefully at each individual sculpture—there were four, and they were scattered throughout the park—and we also stood in the middle, where we could see all of them at the same time. 

Isabel in front of Anish Kapoor's C-Curve (2007):  "Hey, everyone's upside down!"

Anish Kapoor, Non Object (Spire) (2008):  "Wouldn't want a seat on the top of that!"

After the run and breakfast, Mom, Dad, and I set out for a four-mile walk to Fulham Palace, the (former) country home of the Bishops of London and the palace where Henry VIII once sent Catherine of Aragon when he got tired of her.  Inside there were not many paintings, but a long set of history texts, objects to show what life might have been like, and (behind) some lovely gardens.  We walked through the gardens down toward the Thames and Bishop's Park; on the way, we also saw through the gates of the gardens an overgrown cemetery, and we tramped through some tall grass to get there.  It was old, very "atmospheric," and spooky!

We then walked along the Thames, which was blooming with life:  flowers, birds, and rowers, all coming out to enjoy the spring day!  This took us to Fulham FC:  the "football" club and stadium where Fulham plays.  Lastly we walked to a church to hear a piano and cello concert.  The music was very nice—it was classical, so also from the past—and it made me feel very peaceful after long and adventurous day.

IV:   Following our regular Friday evening tradition, Mom and I walked to the National Gallery where we met Dad.  There was a new exhibition that Dad and I wanted to see on the Netherlandish painter Jan Gossaert.  Gossaert was trying to discover how to draw the human body; one of his inspirations was an ancient statue (which we later saw in Rome!) of a boy pulling a thorn out of his foot: Lo Spinario.  Gossaert did a lot of practice drawings to help him figure out how paint the human body, which he needed to do for his many paintings of Adam and Eve, who were usually pictured naked.  The paintings he did were very detailed.  I know a lot about Dutch painters, but Gossaert was new to me, and Dad did a very good job of explaining.  To end the evening, we met Mom, and I drew from my favorite set of paintings, The Four Elements (by Joachim Beuckelaer).

Jan Gossaert, Adam and Eve, ca. 1520 (Royal Collection):  "Put on some clothes, you guys!"

History is shown in many ways, as I discover all the time in my London adventures.  Architecture, food, museums, and music are only some of the ways—and I am sure I will find many more!