The museum by candlelight, courtesy of Sir John Soane's Museum
The magical, mysterious and marvellously eccentric Sir John Soane's Museum is planning a series of candlelit tours on May 15 as part of Museums at Night 2009.
The tours are limited to just 64 places so early booking is essential for this unique opportunity to experience one of London’s best-hidden secrets.
The museum has been cited by a number of people as a place of inspiration. Art critic Brian Sewell said: “Nothing is conventional in this miniature pleasure dome of Xanadu where the meanest place is exquisite and the visitor feels as gross as Alice in the house of the White Rabbit.”
While fashion designer, Bella Freud simply said: “I wish I’d designed Sir John Soane’s Museum.”
The museum by candlelight, courtesy of Sir John Soane's Museum
Tour groups are limited to just 16 people and will begin with a glass of bubbly before curators take visitors on a tour of the labyrinthine house designed by Sir John Soane to display his wonderful collection.
Highlights of the tour will include the refined Regency elegance of the Library-Dining room, to the amazing painting-encrusted planes of the unfolding Picture Room; and from the atmospheric Crypt where flickering candles will illuminate the sarcophagus of Egyptian King Seti I to the Gothic shadows of the Monk’s Parlour where Sir John ‘entertained’ an imagined companion, Padre Giovanni, visitors are promised an unforgettable evening, including areas of the Museum not normally open to the public.
The museum by candlelight, courtesy of Sir John Soane's Museum
This event took place last year - keep checking the Museums at Night 2010 page on Culture24 for events taking place at the Sir John Soane's Museum this year.
