Venues

Royal Academy of Arts

Royal Academy of Arts

Royal Academy of Arts

Open to the public

Association or society in Westminster

1,511 artworks

Plan a visit

More about

The Royal Academy Collection is unique in that it was selected by artists. Founded in 1768, the collection was started by leading artists such as Reynolds and Gainsborough who wanted to encourage and promote a British School of fine arts. It was written into the laws of the institution that all newly elected Academicians should give one work to the Collection. Known as 'Diploma Works', these are still given today and include the work of artists ranging from Henry Fuseli and J. M. W. Turner to John Singer Sargent and David Hockney. In addition to these, important paintings and a large number of portraits and self portraits by artists were acquired through gifts and bequests. Purchases of copies of famous Renaissance paintings were also made to inspire students at the Royal Academy Schools. These include a full-size copy of Leonardo's 'The Last Supper', by Giampietrino, which dates from about 1515. Particularly celebrated works in the collection include John Constable's 'The Leaping Horse', Henry Fuseli's 'Thor Battering the Midgard Serpent' and J. W. Waterhouse's 'A Mermaid'.

Burlington House, Piccadilly, London, Greater London W1V 0DS England

020 7300 8000

A selection of the Royal Academy of Arts’ Collection is displayed in the John Madejski Fine Rooms which are accessible by free guided tours on Tuesday to Saturday. Appointments to view specific works of art can be made by arrangement. See http://www.racollection.org.uk for further details.

https://www.royalacademy.org.uk/

Artworks

  • Naked Head
    Naked Head Eduardo Luigi Paolozzi (1924–2005)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • Fire Ladder, Air Ladder, Water Ladder, Earth Ladder
    Fire Ladder, Air Ladder, Water Ladder, Earth Ladder Joe Tilson (1928–2023)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • Four Diagonals
    Four Diagonals John Graham Carter (b.1942)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • Acrobats Double Sided
    Acrobats Double Sided Ivor Abrahams (1935–2015)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • Sketch of Whirling Ballerinas
    Sketch of Whirling Ballerinas Laura Knight (1877–1970)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • Drawing of a Group of Women Dancing in a Tight Circle
    Drawing of a Group of Women Dancing in a Tight Circle Laura Knight (1877–1970)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • The Walls of Gerona
    The Walls of Gerona Henry Rushbury (1889–1968)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • 1,504 more

Artists

  • The River Road
    David Murray (1849–1933)
  • Mrs. Lothian Sheffield Dickson (Mary Elisabeth Gillman)
    William Charles Ross (1794–1860)
  • Halstow from the Saltings, Kent
    Anne Finlay (1898–1963)
  • Oratio Obliqua
    Walter Bayes (1869–1955)
  • Council Chamber Installation Ceremony
    Frank Craig (1874–1918)
  • Sheffield Weir
    Edward Middleditch (1923–1987)
  • The Musician
    George Belcher (1875–1947)
  • Neptune
    Edward Burch (1730–1814)
  • Self Portrait
    Peter Francis Bourgeois (1756–1811)
  • Ethel Bartlett (1896–1978), Pianist
    Harold Knight (1874–1961)

Stories

Curations

  • The Rink 3pm
    Showcase
    20th Century Spotlight: Royal Academy of Arts, London: Jacklin to Wolfe

    65 artworks curated by David Saywell, Head of Digital Assets

  • Collective Unconscious
    Showcase
    20th Century Spotlight: Royal Academy of Arts, London: Agar to Hoyland

    62 artworks curated by David Saywell, Head of Digital Assets

Venues in Westminster

  •
    BBC England
  • Black Outdoor Art
  • British Council Collection
  • British Dental Association Dental Museum
  • City of Westminster Archives Centre
  • College of Optometrists
  • English Heritage, The Wellington Collection, Apsley House
  • Government Art Collection
  • Hallfield Primary School, Westminster
  • Hunterian Museum