Artifact World Gallery
Shop Prints

Most Famous

The Most Famous Artworks of Victoria and Albert Museum

The 60 most celebrated works of the Victoria and Albert Museum museum, ranked by renown across 21,790 works in the catalog.

A note on the ranking: "fame" here is a measure of renown, not of merit — synthesised from how widely a work is cited and held. It leans toward the Western canon and the best-digitised collections. Read it as a popular index, not a verdict.

  1. Sir Christopher Hatton
    Sir Christopher Hatton Nicholas Hilliard · 1595
  2. A lady combing her hair
    A lady combing her hair Sahib Ram · 1796
  3. The Healing of the Lame Man
    The Healing of the Lame Man Raphael · 1515
  4. Dedham Lock and Mill
    Dedham Lock and Mill John Constable · 1820
  5. Moonlight and River Scene
    Moonlight and River Scene Aert van der Neer · 1665
  6. The Battle of Waterloo: The British Squares Receiving the Charge of the French Cuirassiers
    The Battle of Waterloo: The British Squares Receiving the Charge of the French Cuirassiers Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux · 1874
  7. Children Playing at Doctors
    Children Playing at Doctors Frederick Daniel Hardy · 1863
  8. Charles I (1600–1649), and Henrietta Maria (1609–1669), with a Laurel Wreath
    Charles I (1600–1649), and Henrietta Maria (1609–1669), with a Laurel Wreath Gonzales Coques · 1630
  9. Trompe l'œil with Writing Materials
    Trompe l'œil with Writing Materials Evert Collier · 1702
  10. River Scene with an Inn
    River Scene with an Inn Jan van Goyen · 1630
  11. Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop's Grounds
    Salisbury Cathedral from the Bishop's Grounds John Constable · 1823
  12. A Thames Wharf
    A Thames Wharf Samuel Scott · 1757
  13. Christ Ascending
    Christ Ascending Unknown · 1535
  14. The Rape of Europa
    The Rape of Europa Pierre Gobert · 1715
  15. The Itinerant Musician
    The Itinerant Musician Adriaen van Ostade · 1647
  16. The Waterseller of Seville
    The Waterseller of Seville Diego Velázquez · 1620
  17. The Luteplayer
    The Luteplayer Adriaen Brouwer · 1625
  18. The Sultan Mehmet II
    The Sultan Mehmet II Gentile Bellini · 1490
  19. Portrait of a Lady known as Esmeralda Brandini
    Portrait of a Lady known as Esmeralda Brandini Sandro Botticelli · 1470
  20. Shipping in a Calm
    Shipping in a Calm Willem van de Velde the Younger · 1673
  21. Venice from the Giudecca
    Venice from the Giudecca Joseph Mallord William Turner · 1840
  22. The Pancake Woman
    The Pancake Woman Willem van Mieris · 1715
  23. Anna Pavlova (1881–1931), as 'The Dying Swan'
    Anna Pavlova (1881–1931), as 'The Dying Swan' John Lavery · 1911
  24. Margaret Layton
    Margaret Layton Marcus Gheeraerts the Younger · 1620
  25. Portrait of the Painter's Two Daughters
    Portrait of the Painter's Two Daughters Thomas Gainsborough · 1758
  26. Our Lady with the Infant Jesus riding on a Lamb
    Our Lady with the Infant Jesus riding on a Lamb William Blake · 1800
  27. East Cowes Castle, the Seat of John Nash, Esq.; the Regatta Starting for their Moorings.
    East Cowes Castle, the Seat of John Nash, Esq.; the Regatta Starting for their Moorings. Joseph Mallord William Turner · 1827
  28. Edward Howard (1744–1767)
    Edward Howard (1744–1767) Pompeo Batoni · 1766
  29. Fruit and a Goblet
    Fruit and a Goblet Johann Wilhelm Preyer · 1854
  30. Hercules and the Nemean lion
    Hercules and the Nemean lion Unknown · 1800
  31. The Trumpeter
    The Trumpeter Anthonie Palamedesz · 1654
  32. The Bravo (The Attack on Trebonius)
    The Bravo (The Attack on Trebonius) Unknown · 1600
  33. Portrait of Doge Pasquale Cicogna
    Portrait of Doge Pasquale Cicogna Pietro Malombra · 1594
  34. Mother and Child 1894
    Mother and Child 1894 Mary L. Gow · 1898
  35. Portrait of an Unknown Girl, Aged 10
    Portrait of an Unknown Girl, Aged 10 Nicholas Hilliard · 1609
  36. The Battle of Fontenoy, 1745: The French and the Allies Confronting Each Other
    The Battle of Fontenoy, 1745: The French and the Allies Confronting Each Other Henri Félix Emmanuel Philippoteaux · 1873
  37. An Unknown Woman
    An Unknown Woman Nicholas Hilliard · 1596
  38. Self-portrait
    Self-portrait Joseph Werner the Younger · 1662
  39. A Family Merrymaking
    A Family Merrymaking Jan Miense Molenaer · 1640
  40. The Virgin and Child
    The Virgin and Child Unknown · 1435
  41. An Unknown Woman
    An Unknown Woman Nicholas Hilliard · 1602
  42. Self-portrait
    Self-portrait Rosalie M. Emslie · 1905
  43. Woman Holding a Fan
    Woman Holding a Fan Raja Ravi Varma · 1898
  44. Eve Tempted by the Serpent
    Eve Tempted by the Serpent William Blake · 1796
  45. Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, in a court dress
    Marie Antoinette, Queen of France, in a court dress François-Hubert Drouais · 1773
  46. Self Portrait
    Self Portrait William Henry Hunt · 1825
  47. Portrait miniature of an unknown woman
    Portrait miniature of an unknown woman George Engleheart · 1804
  48. Self-portrait, aged 30
    Self-portrait, aged 30 Nicholas Hilliard · 1589
  49. Portrait of Hyder Beg Khan
    Portrait of Hyder Beg Khan Ozias Humphry · 1794
  50. John Purling (1727–1801)
    John Purling (1727–1801) Thomas Gainsborough · 1775
  51. William Augustus (1721–1765), Duke of Cumberland, Son of George II
    William Augustus (1721–1765), Duke of Cumberland, Son of George II William Hogarth · 1740
  52. Portrait of a Young Lady (formerly called 'Mrs Gainsborough')
    Portrait of a Young Lady (formerly called 'Mrs Gainsborough') Thomas Gainsborough · 1767
  53. Portrait of an unknown man
    Portrait of an unknown man Jeremiah Meyer
  54. George III (1738–1820), When Prince of Wales
    George III (1738–1820), When Prince of Wales George Knapton · 1751
  55. Hans of Antwerp
    Hans of Antwerp Hans Holbein the Younger · 1532
  56. The Entrance to Mr Thrale's Park, Streatham
    The Entrance to Mr Thrale's Park, Streatham Joshua Reynolds · 1767
  57. Charles Dickens in his Study
    Charles Dickens in his Study William Powell Frith · 1859
  58. George Villiers (1628–1687), 2nd Duke of Buckingham
    George Villiers (1628–1687), 2nd Duke of Buckingham Anthony van Dyck · 1630
  59. The Infanta Maria Teresa (1638–1683)
    The Infanta Maria Teresa (1638–1683) Unknown · 1750
  60. John Wilmot (1647–1680), 2nd Earl of Rochester
    John Wilmot (1647–1680), 2nd Earl of Rochester Peter Lely