The RIBA's collection of drawings, held as part of the RIBA Library Drawings and Archives Collections, is the largest and most important collection of British architectural drawings in the world. Currently numbering over 1 million drawings, it celebrates the achievements of British architects from the Renaissance to the present day. The collection also contains important drawings by foreign architects, most notably nearly 300 designs and sketches by Andrea Palladio| which together forms the world's largest assemblage of his drawings.

Architects in the collection

The majority of the material dates from the 18th and 19th centuries, however it does include some major collections of 20th century architects and some works by contemporary practitioners, including Sir Norman Foster. As well as drawings, there are also architectural objects. Many architects are represented in the collection, including: 

 

More images can be seen on RIBApix.|

Images from the collection are available for commercial use under licensing agreements. If you are interested in licensing any of the designs, please contact us|. 

 

Oil paintings

The RIBA holds a number of oil paintings| of architectural subjects or linked to the history of the institute. These include a view of the Thames by Christopher Nevinson and portraits of past presidents of the RIBA.

Since 2012, all 212,000 oil paintings in the nation's art collections are now online on the Your Paintings| website. Some paintings, including those held in by the RIBA, are not owned by the public, but are nevertheless made available for free to the public for enjoyment and research.

Topographical drawings

The Drawings Collection holds many topographical drawings, the most important of which are probably the views of Greek antiquities painted between 1751 and 1753 by James 'Athenian' Stuart, later engraved for the 'Antiquities of Athens', and William Daniell's views of India. Many architects travelled to Europe and the near East, recording their impressions in sketchbooks or watercolours which are now in the collection. There are also 10,000 architectural engravings, principally of British subjects. 

Objects and portraits

Materials involved in the process of design also form part of this collection, these include: models, drawing instruments, casts, office furniture, medals and the busts and portraits of architects.