Vasa Museum, Sweden

Since the Vasa Museum opened in Stockholm in 1961, more than 35 million people have visited what is the most visited museum in Scandinavia. They come from all over the world to pay homage to the Vasa ship, which capsized and sank in Stockholm shortly after her launch in 1628. She lay on the sea bed for 333 years, and after being found in 1956, was salvaged and restored. Vasa is an incredible work of art and was designed to make the rest of Europe admire and fear King Gustav II Adolf. There were approximately 700 sculptures and decorations on the ship, behind the three-metre-long Folkunga Lion figurehead holding the Vasa coat of arms in its paws. The lion has been a symbol of the Swedish monarchy since the Middle Ages. The stern is very grand indeed, covered in sculptures of Greek and Roman gods as well as a coat of arms. The Museum has 13 exhibitions about the Vasa, which is a wonderful snapshot of what life was like in those days. vasamuseet.se/en

Right: The Vasa Museum, ©lindmanphotography.com in brief The American Dream pop to the present will open on 9 March at the British Museum in London, running until 18 June 2017. The exhibition will showcase works covering the last six decades, from...