Catalogue description Ministry of Defence Art Collection

Series arranged in chronological order.

First Lords and Admiralty Secretaries commissioned portraits, donated or bequeathed items from their private collections with the intention of ensuring that their memories were preserved. This art collection grew from the early nineteenth century through the generosity of donors who made bequests and gifts to the Admiralty and, later, to the War Office, then the Ministry of Defence.

The Ministry of Defence Art Collection (MODAC) consisted of around 2,000 items of fine art and antiques, including paintings, drawings, engravings, photographs, clocks and furniture. Following a review of the collection the decision was taken to transfer ownership of the significant works to museums and public bodies in order to ensure their continued protection and public display.

On 12 may 2016 the Secretary of State for Defence Mr Michael Fallon made a written ministerial statement to Parliament explaining the transfer of ownership of the most significant works to public galleries and museums, including the National Maritime Museum, the National Museum of the Royal Navy, the Army Museum, the Imperial War Museum, the Government Art Collection and The National Archives; with the remainder in other public buildings. Residual items remained within the Ministry of Defence as publicly owned non-operational heritage assets. The collection was not valued formally, in line with Government policy. Transfer on an unvalued basis was approved by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury. The Ministry of Defence Art Department closed at the end of March 2017.