From the RA

We're on a quest to digitise 10,000 items from the Royal Academy of Arts' vast collections. Here you'll find our discoveries: drawings, sketches, prints, books, oddities, wonders, all revealed by RA staff and a team of volunteers. We reblog things about Royal Academicians, the history of British art, and great moments in cultural heritage digitisation around the world.

[from-the-ra]

Hi! 

Masa here! 

It's about time I share a bit more about what I'm working on. I've been closely involved in the digitisation project that we embarked on to make RA’s collections more accessible. In this past few months I've realised just how much work there is between photographing objects and making images available online. One of the biggest challenges we’re facing are legal issues relating to copyright law. When digitising works that are still in copyright we have to obtain permission from the copyright holder allowing us to use images on our website and social media platforms. A lot of my work consists of figuring out duration of copyright for particular work and making sure we have the right to display it digitally.

We digitised and key worded hundreds of works that can now be browsed in Explorer on new pages of RA's website, which you can see here. We're constantly adding new images so it's definitely worth having a look and getting lost in what our collection has to offer!

Bye for now,

M

[from-the-ra]

Hi guys,

Masa here!!

Several weeks have passed since Wes and I visited Museums+Tech 2017 conference and yet I'm still thinking about a presentation delivered by Alexandra Reynolds from Southampton Solent University. She talked about digital museum practice and its potential to change hegemonic structures by challenging social, political and cultural issues. A great example is Historic England's Pride of Place initiative which set out to identify and celebrate England's LGBTQ heritage. By browsing through their map of LGBTQ architecture we can now engage with memories that had been previously concealed. Click here for a link to their website! 

Just a few days ago, I stumbled upon one of Hogarth's prints in the archive. It made me think of how art can also disrupt the existing social order and sometimes offer a temporary resistance, even if only as a satire. William Hogarth was well known for his depictions of 18th century society and was particularly witty at addressing peculiar mannerisms of aristocracy and was persistently attacking upper-class taste throughout his career. In Five Orders of Periwings he divided fashionable wigs into five categories that correspond to the five orders of classical architecture – from the most simple "Doric" type wig, worn by the clergy, to the most ornate or "Corinthian" wig only few could afford. He created this engraving a couple of weeks after the coronation of George III and Queen Charlotte, about which Horace Walpole wrote, "Some of the peeresses were dressed over night, slept in armchairs, and were waked if they tumbled their heads".

Keep your eye’s peeled for more posts about our journey with the Royal Academy and I’ll leave you with an image of Hogarth’s engraving I mentioned prior.

Till next time, 

M

[from-the-ra]

Hi guys!

Wes & Masa here, 

We’re writing to you after attending the 2017 Museum+Tech Conference at the Imperial War Museum, London. Hosted by the Museum Computer Group, the conference focused on the technological and digital outputs of museums around Europe.

For us, one of the most intriguing speeches at the conference was given by the Keynote speaker Hannah Fox, Project Director of Derby’s Silk Mill Museum- or ‘The Museum of Making’. Within her speech, Fox illustrated ways in which we can rejuvenate a museum’s role within a community and the modes of Volunteering within these institutions. Parts of the renovation that have already taken place at the Silk Mill have been facilitated through volunteers hosting workshops with local students and members of the community in exchange for access to woodwork facilities and other technical equipment. Through these exchanges not only are there the obvious educational benefits, but it also gives a helping hand to local crafts people and makers who can’t afford expensive resources such as CNC machines. Not only will the people of Derby be part of its renovation, but they’ll play a large role in the selection of the displays; reflecting Derby’s rich and important history in engineering innovation and production. The Silk Mill itself was the world’s first factory and I feel this swap economy approach to volunteering maintains the industrious and ‘maker’ spirit that placed Derby on the map all those years ago. 

In the next few weeks we’ll be in touch individually, picking our highlights of our first three months at the RA. Stay Tuned!!

W & M 

[from-the-ra]

And last, but not least…

I’m Wes, the Heritage trainee for Digital Marketing. I spend my time within the digital team making content for the website and social media channels. My role entails creating material directly from the collection, such as: articles, quizzes, graphics, gifs/animations, live tweeting/instagram stories and blog posts. I also have a part to play within the evaluation and insight side of things; looking at how we read data in order to improve our visitor’s experience and bring more people to the RA.

Having just graduated from a Fine Art degree, I was keen to situate myself within an art institution and within a role which allowed for me to be creative and continue to develop my skills. Fortunately, I found myself at the Royal Academy. I’ve just finished my eighth week and, I’m pleased to say, I have really enjoyed my time here so far. Everyone has been incredibly welcoming and I’ve learnt so much already - not only in regards to the history and quirks of the RA, but also in the production of digital content. I’ve particularly enjoyed digging into the archive/collections in order to research for upcoming videos and future media posts, live tweeting artist talks and producing informative videos for the screens dotted around Burlington House. 

We’ll all be working on a lot of exciting projects over the next year and cannot wait to share them with you guys - so watch this space!

All the best,

W

P.S.

Before I go, I’ll leave you with one of the first gifs I made here: a simple animation of Angelika Kauffman’s ‘Colour’, which is 1 of the 4 panels that comprises her series ‘Elements of Air’. The 4 panels are traditionally placed on the ceiling of Burlington House’s Front Hall and happen to be one of my favourite things I’ve encountered within the collection.  

[from-the-ra]

Hi everyone! 

My name is Masa and I’ve recently joined the RA as a HLF trainee in Collections Department. I was interested in Art from early on and also knew I would like to work in the museum sector - so, not surprisingly, I decided to pursue a degree in Art History. During my studies I worked at the Museum of Modern Art in Ljubljana as a tour guide, which helped me evaluate my career options. At that time, I became interested in working with collections and therefore made the bold decision to move abroad as soon as I had graduated. I soon found myself in London, and started my career in front of house roles and doing some unpaid work on the side. 

As I sat down to write this I realised what an incredible month this has been for me. It’s fascinating learning about RA’s history first-hand from works of contemporary and past Academicians. Diploma works (which are donated by artists upon their election to a Member of the RA) are probably most well-known objects in our collections, but I’m beginning to realise how much more there is to discover. I love our eclectic collection of casts that varies from architectural details to famous antique sculptures. We even have casts of real bodies that were used by students whilst learning how to draw the human figure! Above is a photograph I took whilst removing casts from the studios of the RA Schools. They probably haven't been moved since 1870s and we'll make sure they're cleaned and preserved before we rehang them. 

As you can imagine this is an exceptionally busy period for my team as we’re all working hard on preparing displays for the new galleries that will open as part of Academy’s 250th anniversary next year. I’m looking forward to share details about projects I’m involved in, so stay tuned. 

Best, 

Masa

[from-the-ra]

INTRODUCING OUR NEW HERITAGE TRAINEES!

As part of the Royal Academy’s 250th anniversary celebrations and the Heritage Lottery Fund, the RA has taken on three trainees to work throughout different departments during 2017/18. My name is Patrick and I am based within Learning, there is also Wes in Digital and Masa in Collections, I am sure you will hear from them soon.

These first five weeks have been such a whirlwind, meeting so many new wonderful and interesting people and having the opportunity to explore the Royal Academy in ways that I have never done before. As a group of trainees we were given an in-depth introduction program that other members of my team have been extremely jealous of, I have delved deep into the archive and rummaged through the silver collection traditionally donated to the RA by new academicians.

Sometimes the RA can look, – to an outsider, – like a stalwart of the artistic establishment, an inaccessible and intimidating place for certain groups. However, being based within the learning team I have been able to witness first-hand several access groups, which have been developed over years closely with community groups to help gain access to hard to reach audiences. A brilliant example of this is the monthly Art Club, where homeless people come together to make and discuss art. It showed me how these groups are more than just about the art, they help participants to feel valued, accepted and included. It allows them to build the confidence to increase their social activity, which can go on to help people get back on their feet. Hearing stories of past attendees getting jobs as a direct influence of Art Club is inspiring and hopefully something I can continue to be involved in throughout my traineeship.

Throughout the year I hope to keep you all informed of my progress and the activities I will be involved with for the 250th anniversary celebrations. This year is going to go fast and I cannot believe I have already been here for five weeks!!!

Take care all,

Patrick

[from-the-ra]

Sketch of a woman with a basket of flowers by John Hayter, circa 1820. We hope all of our followers are enjoying the spring blossoms, where ever you are!

[from-the-ra]

Details from a proposal for a lighter portico on Burlington House, home of the Royal Academy, by architect Sir T.G. Jackson, Bt., RA circa 1900. Full image below.

In the top left corner, you can see some scribbled sums, perhaps concerning Jackson’s personal finances? An estimate for another job? Let us know if you can make it out.

[from-the-ra]

Our team of volunteers paid visits to our storage facility this week to photography a wide array of objects related to the history of the RA and the practice of making art. One highlight was this set of fire buckets complete with RA branding! Before the age of fire extinguishers, these proud red buckets were dotted around Burlington House and the RA Schools.

[from-the-ra]

Watercolour of a running hare by Abraham Cooper RA, date unknown. 

[from-the-ra]

The tiny post-it note paper trail of the intrepid digitisation volunteers. :-)

[from-the-ra]

John Gibson RA’s passport, issued 1852. Gibson traveled to Rome when he was 27 to study with Antonio Canova. He initially planned to stay for three years and the return to London. Instead, he established his studio there and remained based in Rome until his death in 1866. Gibson developed an international following in his lifetime and his passport case is stuffed full of stamps detailing his travels. 

Want to see some of John Gibson’s sketches and sculptures in real life? Come visit our display in the RA’s Tennant Gallery. It’s open Tuesday-Friday 10am to 4pm, and Saturday-Sunday 10am - 6pm.

[from-the-ra]

As the sun continues to shine down on London outside, we’re inside digitising a volume printed in 1570 full of woodcut illustrations alongside well-known fables. The section of Aesop’s fables have woken up memories of childhood storybooks, like this one illustrating the tale of The North Wind and the Sun.

[from-the-ra]

We’re back!

We hope all of our followers had a wonderful summer. Ours in the digitisation studio has been busy with cramming in new work just in time for some vacation in August. We are looking forward to sharing more images from the project with you as we keep marching on towards our goal of 10,000 new images from the collection in time for the RA’s 250th birthday. 

Above: the beach at Hastings in watercolour and ink by William Havell, circa 1812 - 1815. 

[smithsonianlibrariesarchives]

Petition to start using these names for tertiary colors…

This color wheel is from The Grammar of Painting and Engraving (1874) by Charles Blanc, translated from the French by Kate Newell Doggett. 

Our current exhibition, Color in a New Light explores the Smithsonian Libraries’ collection through the topic of color. It’s on display in the Smithsonian Natural History Museum  until March 2017, though you can visit the online exhibition, including a Digital Library for the exhibition. 

[from-the-ra]

A study of a skeleton by Benjamin Robert Haydon, circa 1805 while he was studying in the RA Schools. 

[from-the-ra]

are there any paintings Charles Francoise Daubigny in the RA's collection

Thanks for asking, we don’t have any of Daubigny’s paintings in our collection, but one of his works was exhibited here at the RA in 1932.