Art and Literature

'Dawn of Waterloo', by Lady Elizabeth Butler, 1895

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Dawn of Waterloo

This oil painting is one of the highlights of our Conflict in Europe gallery. Details revealed during four months of specialist conservation have enhanced our understanding of the artist and her empathy for the ordinary soldier.

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Keziah Burt sculpting a portrait bust of HM Queen Elizabeth II

Sculpting Elizabeth: A tribute to the Queen’s wartime service

In this video, we speak to figurative artist Keziah Burt about the making of a commemorative portrait bust of Queen Elizabeth II and reflect on Her Majesty's service in the Second World War.

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Gunner of the Royal Artillery at a Covid mobile testing unit, West Midlands Safari Park, June 2020

Recording the Army’s Covid response

British Army personnel have made a significant contribution to the UK's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2020, the National Army Museum initiated a contemporary collecting project to record their efforts.

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‘Amar Singh - fait a Orléans’, 16 October 1914

Paul Sarrut: Interpreting the Army on the Western Front

Paul Sarrut was a French soldier who was posted to the British Army as a military liaison officer and interpreter during the First World War. Trained as an artist, Sarrut created an important visual record of the 3rd (Lahore) Division in France.

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Capturing the Army

Today, the Army trains specialist photographers to capture its story. But the demand for images depicting soldiers' experiences is nothing new. Here we look at some of the earliest pioneers of military photography.

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Women’s work?

Discover how women’s contributions to the British Army have helped bring about change over the past 100 years. And see how Army recruiters have adapted their messaging accordingly.

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Abram Games and the power of the poster

Abram Games was 'Official War Poster Artist' during the Second World War. Always direct, and occasionally controversial, his posters have left a legacy that continues to influence the art of persuasion used by visual designers today.

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Abram Games poster, 'Your Britain. Fight for It Now', 1942

Abram Games, ABCA and the fight for post-war change

During the Second World War, Abram Games produced a series of posters for the Army Bureau of Current Affairs. These aimed to remind soldiers what they were fighting for, while also offering a glimpse of the post-war society to which they could aspire.

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Lord Strathcona’s Horse on the march, 1918

Beauty in desolation: Munnings and the First World War

In 1918, the artist Alfred Munnings was tasked with recording the wartime contribution of the Canadian Cavalry Brigade and Forestry Corps. His paintings highlight the military role of horses, capturing their beauty in the war-affected landscapes of France.

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An unidentified officer of Fencible Cavalry, c1800

Paintings in little

Recent research on the Museum's collection of portrait miniatures has revealed new information about artists and untold stories about some of the subjects they portrayed.

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The earliest European view of Niagara

Thomas Davies' watercolour, ‘An East View of the Great Cataract of Niagara’ (1762), documents the struggle for control of North America and illuminates the history of British exploration and science.

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Battle, Afghanistan, 2010. Oil on linen by Jules George, 2010

Painting in the line of fire

Operating as non-combatants in some of the most dangerous environments in the world, war artists face a variety of challenges. Here, we take a look at how they overcome these difficulties.

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Drawn on the spot: War artists and the illustrated press

In Victorian Britain, it was the news of war rather than the antics of minor entertainment celebrities that boosted sales of newspapers.

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Explore Art and Literature events

'Shakespeare and War' exhibition graphic

Exhibition At Museum

6 October 2023 - 1 September 2024

FREE

Shakespeare and War

Explore some of the ways in which Shakespeare has shaped how we think about soldiers and the Army, and how we imagine war and its consequences today.

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Toddler attending a Tiny Troopers workshop

Cancelled

Workshop At Museum

31 July 2024

£5.00

Tiny Troopers: Music and Movement

Sing, play and create with your little ones at these fun, sensory sessions, perfect for ages 2 to 5.

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Tour At Museum

17 August 2024, 11.00am

£2.00

Shakespeare and War: BSL Tour

Follow expert guide Edward Richards on a British Sign Language (BSL) tour of the Shakespeare and War exhibition.

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Talk At Museum / Online

23 August 2024, 12.00pm

FREE

Shakespeare at the Front

Join Dr Amy Lidster as she explores how Shakespeare has been used on the front lines of conflicts around the world and why he continues to matter for those most immediately affected by war.

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