Emerging from the collapse of the Roman Empire at the end of the 5th century, England slowly built a rich artistic culture under the Anglo-Saxons. The country’s conversion to Christianity brought forth a cohesive religious identity, and it had an epic poem in Beowulf. By the time the Middle Ages ended in 1485, England was a militarized and successful power. Presenting 70 masterpieces of medieval art from the V&A’s holdings, this exhibition examines England’s relationship with Continental Europe during those centuries of change and growth. Sculpture, textiles, ceramics, and much more—including the Gloucester Candlestick and the Becket Casket—are on view. —Elena Clavarino