Uploaded October 2020 | Updated September 2026, 47 minutes ago
Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a unique fusion of architecture, science and art. In this series of illustrated podcasts, recorded to accompany his book Temple of Science: The Pre-Raphaelites and Oxford University Museum of Natural History, John Holmes takes us on a guided tour of the art and architecture of the museum, revealing how leading scientists collaborated with artists of genius to create one of the great masterpieces of the Gothic Revival and Pre-Raphaelite art.
Episode 1
Launched in 1847, the campaign to found and build a new museum dedicated to teaching science at Oxford University took over a decade to come to fruition. When the museum finally opened in 1860, it combined cutting-edge science with inspiring art. In this episode, we trace the history of this campaign, and how it came to involve not only scientists but artists, architects and designers in one of the most original creative collaborations of the Victorian age.
John Holmes is Professor of Victorian Literature and Culture at the University of Birmingham and an Honorary Associate of Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
Oxford University Museum of Natural History is a unique fusion of architecture, science and art. In this series of illustrated podcasts, recorded to accompany his book Temple of Science: The Pre-Raphaelites and Oxford University Museum of Natural History, John Holmes takes us on a guided tour of the art and architecture of the museum, revealing how leading scientists collaborated with artists of genius to create one of the great masterpieces of the Gothic Revival and Pre-Raphaelite art.
Episode 1
Launched in 1847, the campaign to found and build a new museum dedicated to teaching science at Oxford University took over a decade to come to fruition. When the museum finally opened in 1860, it combined cutting-edge science with inspiring art. In this episode, we trace the history of this campaign, and how it came to involve not only scientists but artists, architects and designers in one of the most original creative collaborations of the Victorian age.
John Holmes is Professor of Victorian Literature and Culture at the University of Birmingham and an Honorary Associate of Oxford University Museum of Natural History.
