The Fitzwilliam Museum - University of Cambridge

Director’s Review
A roller-coaster comes to mind to describe the two years that have elapsed since the
museum re-opened in June 2004 following the completion of the Courtyard Development.
They have been action-packed, exhilarating and unpredictable; combining excitement with
adventure and not without their anxious moments.
The highlight was undoubtedly the visit of Her Majesty
the Queen, accompanied by the Chancellor of the
University, His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh,
on 8 June 2005. The afternoon began with a reception
for Gates Scholars in Gallery 3, after which Her Majesty
toured the museum. Members of the curatorial staff
and others were presented to the Queen, who also
observed groups of primary school children at work in
the galleries before inspecting the new Courtyard.
From there the royal party left via the southern
entrance to be greeted by crowds of well-wishers
waiting outside in the sunshine, lining the path and
pavements along Trumpington Street, to provide the
perfect conclusion to a red-letter day, marking the first
visit to the museum by a reigning monarch in more
than a hundred years.
Our records suggest that a further 635,000 visitors
came to the museum, from this country and abroad,
during the period covered by this review. For some,
like Her Majesty, it was the first time while others,
especially during the exhibition of The Cambridge
Illuminations (26 July – 30 December 2005),
returned time and time again for more. The
Illuminations exhibition which was masterminded
by Stella Panayotova, Keeper of Manuscripts and
Printed Books, resulted from the researches of an
international team of medieval scholars into the
unparalleled collections of illuminated manuscripts
held by the University and Colleges of Cambridge. It
was entirely dependent upon their readiness to lend
their treasures for what has been described as one of
the greatest exhibitions of illuminated manuscripts
ever mounted (see pages 10-14). Its co-incidence
with the museum’s acquisition of the Macclesfield
Psalter turned out to be the happiest of accidents.
When this outstanding example of early fourteenth
century East Anglian illumination was put up for sale
by auction in 2004, the museum’s attempt to
purchase it was frustrated. However a second, and
5
Director’s Review
FAR LEFT
Her Majesty The
Queen is shown the
Macclesfield Psalter
by Dr Stella
Panayotova, Keeper
of Manuscripts,
watched by the Vice-
Chancellor
LEFT
Her Majesty The
Queen meets school
children participating
in a gallery teaching
session with the
Director (left) and
Frances Sword, Head
of Education (right)