Articles
Top Picks
Exploring the art and objects gathered over 250 years, artists and leading cultural figures pick out intriguing pieces from the RA Collection to share with you. Did you know Turner was a fisherman? Head to Dan Snow’s picks to find out more.
Our Collection
3 months ago
Top picks from the Collection: Mary Beard’s mythology trail
To celebrate our Collection going on display for the first time, we asked our Professor of Ancient Literature, Mary Beard, to tell us the stories behind some of her favourite pieces inspired by classical myths – from Hercules and Venus to lesser-known gods, nymphs and cyclopes. You’ll find all these works on free display in the new RA.
Our Collection
3 months ago
Top picks from the Collection: Dan Snow
Epic conflicts, mythical heroes and a quiet bit of fishing all feature in historian Dan Snow’s favourite objects from the RA Collection. Listen as he recaps the Battle of Waterloo, explains the ingenious WWI ‘Dazzle’ designs and muses on a deathbed olive branch extended from Gainsborough to Reynolds.
Our Collection
5 months ago
Top picks from the Collection: Emma Stibbon RA
When painter and printmaker Emma Stibbon heard that she’d been elected a Royal Academician five years ago, she was in the middle of the Antarctic Ocean on an artist placement, accompanying a research expedition. Here, the intrepid artist picks out her favourite works from the Collection, featuring early photography, postwar painting and fantastical etching.
Our Collection
7 months ago
Top picks from the Collection: Tom Kerridge
Top chef Tom Kerridge has a longstanding love of art; his wife is a sculptor and he was a good friend of the late Sir Anthony Caro. Against the bustling backdrop of his two Michelin-starred pub, he tells us about some favourite works in the RA Collection – starting with the gruesome tale of James Legg, a 19th-century murderer whose corpse was skinned, crucified and cast in plaster as a teaching aid for the RA Schools.
Our Collection
8 months ago
Top picks from the Collection: Rebecca Salter RA
“I’ve been drawn to works on paper that really show the thought processes of artists and architects”, says printmaker, painter, and Keeper of the RA Schools Rebecca Salter, as she gives an audio tour of the online Collection.
Our Collection
8 months ago
Top picks from the Collection: Anne Desmet RA
Anne Desmet is the only current Royal Academician elected for her work as an engraver. In this online tour, she unearths treasures from the Collection including works by Dürer, Piranesi and William Blake.
Our Collection
8 months ago
Top picks from the Collection: Nitin Sawhney
The award-winning composer Nitin Sawhney offers an audio tour of favourite works from the RA Collection – from John Constable to Antony Gormley.
Our Collection
8 months ago
Top picks from the Collection: Stephen Farthing RA
“I’ve set out a little curriculum from which you could teach someone to draw,” says artist and teacher Stephen Farthing, as he gives an audio tour of the online collection.