Justin
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I'm going to be the most honest as possible.
This museum was incredible especially when you know that all permanent exhibitions are totally free!!
First, the 17th century sculpture gallery is wonderful and is really diving us into antiquity: Greece, Rome but also biblical stories.
Then the art & design room was such a wonderful surprise to me: there were Vivienne Westwood runaway outfits on display with her iconic jewellery and also a biography of hers. As an enthusiast of Vivienne Westwood, it was really interesting.
Then you walk upstairs and I can tell you that all the paintings and artworks on display upstairs are worth the visit with Pre-Raphaelites, Victoria art, War art. It was wonderful. I especially enjoyed the painting Narcissus and Echo since I do ancient greek and latin classes and that whenever we talk about Narcissus' myth, I'd think of this painting. Therefore to me it's really iconic.
However, I'd say that my favourite is A Summer Night. The painting is gigantic and really poetic. It depicts four similar young ladies on a huge kinda roman bed. In the background, there's a splendid view of the sea. The picture is really giving renaissance and therefore also giving greco-roman antiquity. The colors are warm and soft. When I first saw the painting, I immediately thought of the four Lisbon sisters in bed waiting in a bedroom because their parents locked them away after Cecilia's (the youngest sister) suicide and after that Lux came home in the morning after a party at night. All the characters I'm talking about are from the gorgeous, scenic, poetic but tragic movie The Virgin Suicides directed by Sofia Coppola, Frank Coppola's daughter. The movie is based on a novel but Mrs Coppola still did a wonderful job doing this movie. The painting to me really depicts that summer boredom feeling that the four girls on the painting are going through just like the Lisbon sisters went through this feeling. Who knows? Maybe Sofia Coppola used this painting as inspiration for her movie? But nothing's sure.
In conclusion, if you're in Liverpool, around and that you love art then don't walk, run. (And it's free!)
P.S: The staff is also very welcoming and lovely.