The RA archive is a treasure trove of stories, memories and recordings about art and artists from the past 250 years. In honour of Explore Your Archive week, we introduce some of its highlights and four more London archives to explore, holding everything from American performance art footage to rare Japanese prints.
A review of the RA Collection has turned up a vital historical document, the Royal charter of the Society of Artists. RA archivist Mark Pomeroy explains.
On the eve of a major exhibition in London dedicated to Sir Joshua Reynolds, we delve into the RA’s archive to learn more about the Academy’s founding president.
As the conflict continued, the Royal Academy adapted its exhibition programme to support the war effort.
The First World War took a heavy toll on the Royal Academy’s artists, staff and students - and left indelible scars on our building.
How the RA played a role in the development of a dazzling new form of camouflage.
With volunteers drilling in the courtyard and the Red Cross taking over the galleries, the RA soon found itself at the centre of the war effort.
A snapshot of the Royal Academy on 4 August 1914, with the country poised on the brink of war.
We’re joining in with a national moment of reflection on Monday 4 August.
A small pamphlet, discovered deep within our archives, shows that the beard as the defining feature of hipster facial fashion has been around longer than you might think.