NGV, the National Gallery of Victoria

Melbourne is full of wonderful museums. I was in the city recently and decided to pop into the National Gallery of Victoria (NGV).

The NGV has two locations. One is the Ian Potter Centre in Federation Square, which is a home for Australian art, presenting Indigenous and non-Indigenous art from the colonial period to the present day. It’s excellent and I highly recommend it. The other location is NGV International on St Kilda Road. NGV International houses collections from Europe, Asia, America, and Oceania. I had not been here before. It was an impromptu visit so I was armed only with my iPhone.

I had heard there is an excellent William Blake exhibit at NGV and it did not disappoint. What I didn’t know is there are also some fine antiquities, which I love.

Art.
A portion from <em>The Canterbury Tales<em> William Blake Thats the Wife of Bath prominently depicted Bragging rights Ive read this in the original Middle English
art
<em>The Creation of Eve<em> William Blake
William Blake art.
<em>Time advancing and Time passing by<em> William Blake
Art at the National Gallery of Victoria.
<em>Arise O Rintrah<em> William Blake
Art of William Blake.
<em>Satan before the Throne of God<em> from <em>Illustrations of the Book of Job<em> William Blake
Art.
<em>The Harlot and the Giant<em> by Blake for Dantes <em>The Divine Comedy<em>
William Blake art.
<em>Cerberus<em> by Blake from illustrations for <em>The Divine Comedy<em>
Visitors looking at William Blake's Illustrations of the Book of Job.
Visitors looking at William Blakes <em>Illustrations of the Book of Job<em>
Pieta, Germany, early 16th century, polychromed limewood.
Pieta Germany early 16th century polychromed limewood
Mary, St John, and St Mary Magdalene, Germany, c. 1470, polychromed limewood.
Mary St John and St Mary Magdalene Germany c 1470 polychromed limewood
St Catherine, Spain, c. 1350, limestone.
St Catherine Spain c 1350 limestone
St Barbara, France, c. 1420, oak.
St Barbara France c 1420 oak
The Virgin attended by three holy women, Antonio Begarelli, Italian, c. 1530, earthenware.
The Virgin attended by three holy women Antonio Begarelli Italian c 1530 earthenware
Antiquities.
Tlaloc the god of rain and Chicomecoatl the goddess of ripe maize Central Mexico Late Post Classic 1300 1521 stone
Antiquities.
A collection of Greek and South Italian vases ranging from c 900 BC to the late fourth century BC
Antiquities.
Egypt head covering of Padihorpasheresat 1st centry 2nd century AD
Various antiquities from the Egyptian collection.
Various antiquities from the Egyptian collection
Antiquities.
Standing no more than two or three inches tall they may look like little toys but these are workers and servants for the deceased in the Egyptian afterlife
Egyptian antiquities.
From the Egyptian collection

This is just a taste of the NGV, which also includes the work of Chinese video artist Wang Gongxin, an exhibit on mid-century modern furniture design in Australia, photography by Sue Ford,  an extensive South and Southeast Asian collection, and a new exhibit on Italian Masterpieces from Spain’s Royal Court.

The NGV International is located at 180 St Kilda Road. It is open from 10am to 5pm and admission is free.

Have you been to the NGV or another Australian museum? What are your favourite museums?

14 thoughts on “NGV, the National Gallery of Victoria”

  1. Hi there – its a great Gallery. As one ex-pat to another, do you find it little hard to comprehend that Victoria has a National Gallery??

    Cheers – Stewart M – Melbourne

    Reply
  2. A varied collection of images — I think the Greek and Italian vases spoke the loudest to me through my computer screen, although the Egyptian collection is a close second.

    Reply

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