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A cast of Trajan's Column (cut in half, upper part seen in foreground) as displayed at the Cast Court in the Victoria and Albert Museum in London. The acquisition by museums of plaster casts of important monuments and works of art was especially popular in the mid-to-late 19th century, since few people could afford to travel to the Continent to view the originals. The V&A's collection is regarded as one of the finest remaining in the world.