V&A to open refurbished Italian Cast Court in latest phase of FuturePlan
The Victoria & Albert Museum in London is set to open its newly refurbished Italian Cast Court in the latest phase of its FuturePlan initiative to overhaul its galleries and displays.
The 24m-high Cast Courts were opened in 1873 and purpose-built to house a collection of post-Classical European sculpture.
This collection includes a 5m-high reproduction of Michelangelo’s David and a set of electrotype doors cast from the Gates of Paradise at Florence Cathedral.
The redesign has been led by Julian Harrap and Metaphor architects, working with conservation consultancy Crick Smith.
A decorative scheme has been reinstated that pays tribute to the Cast Court’s original colours, architectural details and finishes, according to the V&A.
The 19th-century ceramic tiled floor has been restored and repairs have been made to the glazed roof, ceiling and walls.
Marjorie Trusted, lead curator of the Cast Courts, says: “This splendid gallery displays some of the greatest sculptures of the Italian Renaissance, seen through life-size and dramatic 19th-century plaster casts, in a richly-coloured and imposing interior. The renovation will see the gallery transformed into one of the most impressive spaces in the V&A.”
When it opens, the Italian Cast Court will be renamed the Weston Cast Court.
The gallery is the latest reopening in the V&A’s FuturePlan initiative, which has also seen new furniture and fashion galleries open.
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