Museum from Home: Explore the RBSA Archive Collection

The RBSA Permanent Collection consists of over 850 works by past and present Members & Associates of the RBSA, and artists who have a connection with the Society or the Midlands.

The RBSA Permanent Collection

The Collection aims to gather and conserve objects significant to the history of the RBSA and to Birmingham’s wider artistic heritage. In addition to ongoing acquisitions, each new elected Member of the RBSA donates one ‘Diploma Work’ to the RBSA Archive to ensure the collection continues to grow.

The Permanent Collection includes paintings, prints, drawings, sculpture, ceramics and jewellery. These objects are kept securely in temperature and humidity controlled conditions and the RBSA follows rigorous procedures to maintain Accredited Museum status.

Highlights of the Collection

Usually, the archive is run by a team of volunteers who look after the collection, conduct research and respond to archive enquiries. While the RBSA Gallery is closed, we reflect on the Collections Highlights project developed to celebrate 200 years of Art, Artists and Audiences in Birmingham.

The Highlights of the Collection was selected and researched by members of the RBSA’s Volunteer Archive Team in 2012-14.

Enjoying the Collection from home

Click on the images below to enlarge them and scroll down to see the comments for more information about each piece of art.

Anthony Sawbridge PPRBSA, The Balloon Seller

Aubrey Beardlsey, How Sir Belvidere Cast the Sword Excalibur into the Water

Benjamin Creswick RBSA, John Ruskin

Bernard Fleetwood-Walker PPRBSA, Caroline

Bernard Fleetwood-Walker PPRBSA, Joan Woollard

Bernard Sleigh RBSA, Rough Sea at Tintagel

David Cox Senior, Bolton Abbey

David Cox, Lane at Harborne

David Harban, RBSA, A Different View Lichfield Cathedral

Dawn Imogen Sallie Cookson, The Old Florentine

Elaine Hind, Blue Pot with Iris

Elizabeth Ridgway RBSA, Summer nap

Emmy Bridgwater, Stark Encounter

Frederick Thomas Lines, Self portrait

Frederick Thomas Lines, Tettenhall Church

Harold Henry Holden RBSA, March

Heinke Jenkins RBSA, We never had it so good

Henry Harris Lines, Bridgnorth

Hilary Paynter Hon. RBSA, Snowdonia

Jacqué Wakely RBSA, Tidal Wave

Joan Woollard PPRBSA, Jonah and the big fish

Joan Woollard PPRBSA, The Races

John Salt Hon. RBSA, Pink Trailer

John Shakespeare RBSA, The Square Brush Technique

Joseph Southall PPRBSA, The Old Portico

June Dudleston, Forest in Fall

Lyall Watson, Portrait of Henry Moore

Percy Hipkiss RBSA, Design for a matching set of costume jewellery entitled ‘Sea Fantasy’

Peter Gross RBSA, Peter Gross

Peter Wareing RBSA, Tall Vase

Rachel Ricketts RBSA, Caprice

Richard Chattock, Tabbing the Blast Furnace

Robert Ball, The Quarry at Rowley Regis

Sir Henry Rushbury (1889-1968), La Rochelle

Trevor Denning RBSA, RBSA Gallery, New Street

Usha Khosla RBSA, Bowl

Walter Jenks Morgan RBSA, The Meeting Place

William Breakspeare, Newlyn Woman

William John Wainwright PPRBSA, Portrait of John Keeley RBSA

William Roden RBSA (1817-1892), Head of a woman

Would you like to learn more about the RBSA Archive Collection? Tell us in the comments.

About Us

The Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) is an artist-led charity which supports artists and promotes engagement with the visual arts through a range of exhibitions, events and workshops.

The RBSA runs an exhibition venue – the RBSA Gallery – in Birmingham’s historic Jewellery Quarter, a short walk from the city centre.

The gallery is currently closed due to Covid-19.

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