London History Day at the RA
Thursday 31 May 2018 12 - 12.59am
Royal Academy of Arts
Free, no booking required.
The Making of an Artist: Learning to Draw
Join us for a series of free tours, inspired by this year's theme of 'courage'.
As part of London History Day we're hosting a series of free tours of our Library, Vaults and Cast Corridor. Take a look at the full programme below:
Library tours
Join the Academy's Librarian Adam Waterton for a tour of the RA's historic library as he uncovers some of the most treasured items from the RA Collection, focusing on the role of women artists at the Royal Academy and in British art since the 18th century.
Established to serve the needs of the Royal Academicians and students in the RA Schools, the RA's Library is one of the world's most significant resources for the historical study of British art from 1760 to the present day. It is the oldest institutional fine-arts library in the UK and houses significant collections of books and materials relating to British art and its history, as well as the history of the RA, Royal Academicians, RA Schools students, exhibitions and collections since the mid-18th century.
Tours at 2pm and 4pm, last approx. 30 minutes. Sign up on the day in the Front Hall of Burlington House, first come, first served.
Vaults tours
Join a tour of the Vaults led by Helen Valentine (Senior Curator) and Annette Wickman (Curator of Works on Paper) where works from the RA Collection explore the theme The Making of an Artist: Learning to Draw. Drawings and objects illustrate the early students working in the RA Schools, the importance of drawing from casts and from life, and the arrival of women students.
Tours at 1pm and 3pm, last approx 30 minutes. Meet in the Front Hall of Burlington House.