Our adventures with driving through Huntsville were plentiful. We arrived around 10:30am and spent the next fifteen minutes searching for public parking for the museum. After driving around in circles and asking for directions, we finally found some parking and walked to the museum from there.
The exhibition featured gorgeous examples of Victorian art that were purchased by Thomas Holloway, the founder of Royal Holloway, University of London in Egham, Surrey to decorate the walls of the Founders' Building on campus.
While at Royal Holloway, I never got the chance to see the university's collection of oil paintings with enough time to truly appreciate them. I was ecstatic when I found out that RHUL had decided to plan an exhibition that would showcase their collection while traveling to museums in the U.S. and Canada.
Some of my favorites in the exhibition were:
1. Edwin Longsden Long's The Babylonian Marriage Market (1875) with its exquisite detail and ornate frame which featured Assyrian numerals and the 'tree of life' motif.
2. Sir John Everett Millais' The Princes in the Tower (1878) showing the final moments of Edward and Richard, the only sons of Edward IV, who were imprisoned by their uncle Richard III in the Tower of London.
3. William Powell Frith's The Railway Station (1862), a beautiful example of the meshing of the upper and middle classes who are waiting at Paddington station.
There were many other paintings featured in the exhibition that were beautiful and full of little details of social history of the Victorian period.
The exhibition ends this Sunday (January 31st). If you are in the area, please stop by and enjoy the exhibition!
After viewing the exhibition, my friend and I had lunch at the museum's restaurant, Pane e Vino. The restaurant serves handmade pizza, calzones, and pasta. Yum!
With time to spare, my friend and I drove to Patches and Stitches, a lovely cross-stitch and quilting shop a few minutes away from the HMOA.
I came away with the following additions to my stash: ^___^
Lovely, soft threads by Crescent Colors for a LHN design that I plan on starting in the future!
The newest issue of Sampler and Antique Needlework magazine, Blue Ribbon Designs' Hugs and Kisses pattern, and 28ct cream cashel linen!
I can't wait to read through the magazine! I've always wanted to purchase this magazine, but it isn't available at my local bookstores or needlework shop! Of course, the BRD pattern is perfect for Valentine's designs!! Woohoo ;)
Checking into the hotel, my friend and I watched a few episodes of a new Korean drama before eating dinner at a local Chinese restaurant. LOL My fortune: "You are heading in the right direction" which was hilarious since my friend and I were just talking about the craziness that is her GPS!
After dinner, I taught my friend how to stitch on linen using free scrapes of linen that we picked up at the cross stitch shop.
All in all, it was a fun trip!!
Until next time ^____^
I am so glad you had a wonderful time at the exhibition and you had the opportunity to make the trip. Your stash of "lovelies" from the needlework store are beautiful. I would really love to see your new magazine when you have a few minutes.
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