Royal Academy of Arts launches virtual tour on Google Arts & Culture

The Royal Academy of Arts in London has partnered with Google Arts & Culture to launch 'Meet the Royal Academy', a digital project offering virtual tours of the institution. The initiative, which debuted shortly before the museum's reopening on July 9, 2020, allows users to explore 250 years of history and collections, including hidden areas like the library. Google has digitized parts of the collection in ultra-high definition, enabling zoom to reveal brushstroke details and augmented reality viewing. Featured works include a copy of Leonardo da Vinci's 'Last Supper' attributed to Giampietrino and Giovanni Antonio Boltraffio, Michelangelo's 'Taddei Tondo', John William Waterhouse's 'A Mermaid', Joshua Reynolds's 'Portrait of King George III', and pieces by J.M.W. Turner, Thomas Gainsborough, and Kiki Smith. The project highlights the continued role of digital platforms in providing remote access to cultural institutions post-lockdown.