The Bodleian Library, Oxford
The Bodleian Library is one of the most significant academic libraries in the world and a defining landmark in the historic heart of Oxford. Founded in 1602 by Sir Thomas Bodley, it remains the principal research library of the University of Oxford and is among the oldest libraries in Europe. Today, its collections contain more than 13 million printed items, making it the second-largest library in Britain after the British Library. Beyond its academic importance, the Bodleian is renowned for its extraordinary architecture, ranging from the medieval grandeur of the Divinity School to the iconic circular form of the Radcliffe Camera.
Over the last couple of years, I have been fortunate to photograph several of the Bodleian’s most important spaces, including the interiors of the Old Library, the Divinity School and the Radcliffe Camera, alongside exterior imagery of these remarkable buildings. Photographing within such historic interiors requires a careful and respectful approach, preserving the atmosphere and character of each space while capturing the craftsmanship, light and architectural detail that make them so unique. Few locations in Britain combine scholarship, history and architecture in quite the same way as the Bodleian, and it has been a privilege to document these extraordinary buildings through photography.
