Art and Literature | National Army Museum

The Tanjore Durbar, Madras, February 1840

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Indian armies, Indian art

Artworks created by Indian artists for the British soldiers serving on the subcontinent provide a fascinating insight into early Anglo-Indian relations.

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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 they could aspire to.

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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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Painting in the line of fire

Painting on campaign presents war artists with a number of issues; not least that they are non-combatants in some of the most dangerous environments in the world.

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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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Indian armies, Indian art

Artworks created by Indian artists for the British soldiers serving on the subcontinent provide a fascinating insight into early Anglo-Indian relations.

explore this story

The Wipers Times: The soldiers' paper

'The Wipers Times' was full of dark humour and one of the finest trench publications from the First World War.

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Restoring Isandlwana

'The Battle of Isandlwana' is one of our most popular artworks. But before going on display again, the iconic painting needed some TLC: tender loving conservation!

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Explore Art and Literature events

The art of persuasion: Wartime posters by Abram Games

Exhibition

6 April 2019 - 24 November 2019

£6.00

The art of persuasion: Wartime posters by Abram Games

This major exhibition explores the life and legacy of the iconic designer Abram Games, focusing on his time as ‘Official War Poster Artist’ during the Second World War.

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Secondary workshop

23 September 2019 - 18 November 2019

FREE

Remembrance poetry workshop

Develop your poetic vocabulary and powers of description, taking inspiration from our First World War handling collection and archive.

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Primary workshop

23 September 2019 - 18 November 2019

FREE

Remembrance poetry workshop

Develop your poetic vocabulary and powers of description, taking inspiration from our First World War handling collection and archive.

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Tour

2 October 2019, 6.30pm

£10.50

Curator tour: The art of persuasion

Join a curator on an hour-long guided tour of our special exhibition, 'The art of persuasion: Wartime posters by Abram Games'.

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Government poster campaigns in the Second World War

Talk

11 October 2019, 11.30am

FREE

Government poster campaigns in the Second World War

As part of this year's Chelsea History Festival, David Bownes explores prominent government poster campaigns like 'Make Do and Mend' and 'Careless Talk Costs Lives'.

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