Venues

Royal Academy of Arts

Royal Academy of Arts

Royal Academy of Arts

Open to the public

Association or society in Westminster

1,500 artworks

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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

  • Dungeness from Hythe
    Dungeness from Hythe Frederick Cuming (1930–2022)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • Richmond Park No. 2
    Richmond Park No. 2 Laura Knight (1877–1970)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • Sudarynia
    Sudarynia Veronica Smirnoff (b.1979)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • The Royal Academy Selection Committee
    The Royal Academy Selection Committee Ken Howard (1932–2022)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • Queen of the Channel
    Queen of the Channel Frederick Cuming (1930–2022)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • Midi Landscape near Ganges
    Midi Landscape near Ganges Colin Graham Frederick Hayes (1919–2003)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • Untitled (six on brown)
    Untitled (six on brown) Fiona Rae (b.1963)
    Royal Academy of Arts
  • 1,493 more

Artists

  • Self-Portrait
    Jean Cooke (1927–2008)
  • K37
    Rebecca Salter (b.1955)
  • Fly
    Gabriel Hartley (b.1981)
  • A New Whip for the Dutch
    John Seymour Lucas (1849–1923)
  • Trumpet Boy
    Yinka Shonibare (b.1962)
  • The Gallery
    Sydney Lee (1866–1949)
  • Acropolis at Sunrise
    Herbert Edwin Pelham Hughes-Stanton (1870–1937)
  • The Gardener's Daughter
    George Dunlop Leslie (1835–1921)
  • Leopard and Bird
    John Macallan Swan (1847–1910)
  • The Snowstorm: Spiral Motif in Black and White
    Victor Pasmore (1908–1998)

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