Tate Britain

Walk Through British Art

Main Floor

George Frederic Watts and assistants, Hope 1886. Tate

Walk through time and explore artworks from 1545 to the present day

These rooms offer a chronological display of Britain’s greatest artists, taken from the collection. Instead of designated themes or movements, the display is is arranged by decade, so you can see an array of art made at any one moment.

Venue

Tate Britain
Millbank
London SW1P 4RG
Plan your visit

Art in this display

John Singer Sargent Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose

1885–6

Francis Bacon Three Studies for Figures at the Base of a Crucifixion

c.1944

Richard Dadd The Fairy Feller’s Master-Stroke

1855–64

Henry Fuseli Lady Macbeth Seizing the Daggers

?exhibited 1812

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Rooms in this display

Left Right

Sir Nathaniel Bacon, ‘Cookmaid with Still Life of Vegetables and Fruit’ c.1620–5

1540

Start the journey through 500 years of British art with works from 1540–1650

Free entry

Jan Siberechts, ‘View of a House and its Estate in Belsize, Middlesex’ 1696

1650

Explore a time of enormous change in the United Kingdom, from 1650–1730

Free entry

William Hogarth, ‘The Painter and his Pug’ 1745

1730

See British artworks from 1730–1765, including an iconic self-portrait by Hogarth

Free entry

Sir Joshua Reynolds, ‘Three Ladies Adorning a Term of Hymen’ 1773

1760

Discover artworks from 1760–1780, a period dominated by the work of Sir Joshua Reynolds

Free entry

John Singleton Copley, ‘The Death of Major Peirson, 6 January 1781’ 1783

1780

Experience paintings and sculptures from the war period of 1780–1810

Free entry

John Constable, ‘Sketch for ‘Hadleigh Castle’’ c.1828–9

1810

See landscape painting and great neoclassical works from 1810–1840

Free entry

1840

Recapture the feel of a Victorian exhibition gallery, with artworks from 1840–1890

Free entry

1890

View artworks created from 1890–1900, the decade Tate was founded

Free entry

1900

Wander a room devoted to art from 1900–1910, a period in flux

Free entry

1910

Uncover 1910-1930, one of the most contested periods in art

Free entry

Naum Gabo, ‘Construction in Space with Crystalline Centre’ 1938–40

1930

Reflect on the diversity of art produced in Britain from 1930-1940

Free entry

1940

See artworks from 1940-1950, which mainly respond to World War II

Free entry

1950

View significant works from 1950–1960, as artists reacted to the post-war period

Free entry

Peter Blake, ‘Self-Portrait with Badges’ 1961

1960

Explore 1960-1970, a decade of tremendous change in society and art

Free entry

60 years

60 Years continues the Walk through British Art with work by women artists from 1960s to the present day

Free entry

A roaring success

The Sunday Times

If you thought you knew British art, visit and think again … there is no better place to go

The Mail on Sunday

Find out more

Left Right

Simeon Solomon, ‘A Youth Relating Tales to Ladies’ 1870

A queer walk through British art

Explore some of the ways sexualities and gender identities have been thought about and depicted in British art

George Stubbs, ‘Mares and Foals in a River Landscape’ c.1763–8

Tate Etc

Five hundred years of British art: Tate Britain rehang I

Chris Stephens

Curator, Chris Stephens discusses Tate Britain’s rehang

Tate Kids Kids’ View

Jacqueline Wilson's Magical Tour of Tate Britain

How can an art gallery inspire you to tell your own stories?