Dr James Finch

John Constable and picture frames John Constable and picture frames by Jacob Simon This is an initial exploration of some of John Constable’s landscape frames, primarily his Royal Academy exhibits, on the occasion of the Tate exhibition, Turner & Constable: rivals & originals (until 12 April 2026) [1]. Here we look at original or early frames and their makers, at attitudes to framing in Constable’s lifetime and at some later reframing.

John Constable and picture frames

John Constable and picture frames by Jacob Simon This is an initial exploration of some of John Constable’s landscape frames, primarily his Royal Academy exhibits, on the occasion of the Tate exhibition, Turner & Constable: rivals & originals (until 12 April 2026)…

Part of Leonard Rosoman's wonderful mural 'Upstairs and Downstairs' in the #royalacademyofarts cafe- which never fails to raise my spirits!- and a lovely preparatory study also in the RA collection.

A current favourite from the #royalacademyofarts collection currently on display, 'Through the Looking Glass' by Jean Cooke (note the reflected self-portrait amongst the flowers!)
www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/...

Buildings on Piccadilly designed by the architect and Academician W. Curtis Green- a reminder to always look up in central London!

'The greatest painting in the world' in Lucian Freud's words- Constable's 'The Leaping Horse' is currently on loan from the #royalacademyofarts to the Turner & Constable exhibition at Tate Britain.

My favourite Constable oil sketch is the lead image for the @hyperallergic.com review of 'Turner & Constable' at Tate Britain

Images from the Rachel Rose exhibition at Pilar Corrias, London. Beautifully painted renderings of historic British landscapes by Constable (cloud studies like those in the RA collection) and others, seemingly in a state of dissolving.

Reading up on Frederic Shields today, I was sidetracked by his watercolour of William Blake's workroom and deathroom' and this poem which Dante Gabriel Rossetti wrote in response to it...

On the subject of Goldfinger, he presented this design for Trellick Tower to the #royalacademyofarts after he was elected as an Academician: www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/...

When I first worked at the #royalacademyofarts, the French Railways House over the road on Piccadilly still had Ernö Goldfinger's signage- the site looks very different now. The RA paid homage to the signage in this display in 2014: www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/s...

4/ #Christmas card design by Sir Hugh Casson: www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/...

3/ Preparatory sketches by John Everett Millais for his painting ' #Christmas Eve, 1887'
www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/...

2/ John Gilbert's original design for his famous print ' #Christmas at Windsor Castle in the Time of Henry VIII':
www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/...

A few seasonal works from the #royalacademyofarts collection:
1/ A print by George Clausen given as a Christmas gift in 1937:
www.royalacademy.org.uk/art-artists/...

Thomas Gainsborough's 'Girl with Pigs', purchased by Sir Joshua Reynolds in 1882 and so marking a moment of respect and commonality in the careers of the two great rivals. Now in the collection at Castle Howard, Yorkshire.

Visiting #batterseapowerstation yesterday reminded me of this work by Giles Gilbert Scott in the #royalacademyofarts collection- a fantastic interior of Liverpool Cathedral

two brown paintings side by side of people at an exhibition

Curating Kerry James Marshall 🎨

An evening exploring Marshall’s practice, legacy, and the curatorial visions that have shaped his most significant exhibitions✨

📅 15 Jan 2026 | 18:00–20:00
📍 Sir Ambrose Fleming LT

👉 Free and welcome to all: shorturl.at/01rAg

How drawing and etching shaped Whistler's vision | Art UK Discover artworks, explore venues and meet artists. Art UK is the online home for every public collection in the UK, featuring over 750,000 artworks by over 70,000 artists.

Nice piece on Whistler by Frances Varley for @artukdotorg.bsky.social artuk.org/discover/sto...

A favourite seasonal artwork in the #royalacademyofarts collection- and one surely known to @paintingsoflondon.bsky.social - Robert Buhler, 'Green Park', 1947

The John Madejski Fine Rooms | Royal Academy of Arts Discover the historic Fine Rooms at the heart of Burlington House and see treasures from the RA Collection spanning more than 300 years.

The John Madejski Fine Rooms at the #royalacademyofarts, a beautiful suite of rooms not normally open, will be open 6 days a week from 16 Dec-1 Feb- please make the most of this opportunity to see work by Gainsborough, Lowry, Hockney and many more on display!
www.royalacademy.org.uk/exhibition/f...

Several works by G.F. Watts from the #royalacademyofarts collection are in the Pattle Sisters exhibition at the Watts Gallery, including the drawing of Sara Pattle which features in the exhibition marketing

Sheila Fell's 'Moorland at Night' (1979), a favourite work in the #royalacademyofarts collection. Recently shown in the Fell exhibition at Tullie House in Carlisle.

'Turner & Constable' at #Tate Britain- Turner's 'Dolbadern Castle' and Constable's 'A Boat Passing a Lock', both from the #royalacademyofarts collection, looking splendid in the first room!

'We Will Get Through This With Art'- painting by Bob and Roberta Smith on display at #royalacademyofarts as part of 'The Art Saleroom' this weekend.

We are delighted to announce that Hew Locke is the winner of the Apollo Artist of the Year award, which is supported by Whisky 1901
apollo-magazine.com/apollo-award...

#GertrudeHermes' 'The Warrior's Tomb' (1941) depicting a sinking submarine from above, is one of two works from the #RoyalAcademy collection currently on display in 'Artist as Witness' at the Russell-Cotes in Bournemouth russellcotes.com/event/artist...

Reading about Carol Weight's work as a war artist in @britishartjournal.bsky.social- this brilliant Athens street scene (1946) is in the Imperial War Museum collection

04/1156 One of a group of preparatory studies by Leighton for his painting 'Captive Andromache' in the Manchester Art Gallery. #royalacademyofarts

A favourite from the brilliant #royalacademyofart collection of #Hogarth prints is this woodcut copy of his own 'Cruelty in Perfection' that he had made to appeal to the market for woodcuts (sold more cheaply and in greater quantities than the copper engravings he made himself). RA 17/3881

Standout works by Academicians at the LAPADA fair on Berkeley Square- a brilliant Sickert, a tiny Constable sketch, an unusual Munnings, and an Augustus John drawing.