 The Society's Diploma Collection was founded following a proposal made in 1860 that each newly elected Member present a picture on his election to the Society. After the granting of the Society's Diploma in 1881 these pictures became known as Diploma Works although the Collection also includes works from other sources.
The Collection now numbers some 900 items, mostly individual watercolour drawings,  although the RWS has also accumulated works in other media including oil paintings as well as etchings, engravings and sculpture. There is considerable variety in the work: represented in the Collection are such diverse artists as John Varley, David Cox, Peter De Wint, Samuel Palmer, Sir Edward Burne-Jones, Sir Laurence Alma Tadema, John Singer Sargent, Joseph Southall, Dame Laura Knight, David Jones, Stanley Roy Badmin, Patrick Procktor, Leslie Worth and Ken Howard. Non-Members represented include George Romney and David Roberts.
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