Photographic services

High resolution digital images of some of the works in the collection are available for purchase via http://www.bmimages.com/. Alternatively, photographs can be ordered of any of the works in the collection of the Department of Prints and Drawings, by contacting the department at printsphoto@britishmuseum.org.

Please note we do not have a complete stock of photographs for browsing, and cannot undertake picture research. If you want a generic illustration or have a non-specific request you must come in and do your own research, or use a commercial picture library.

Please give as much information as possible when placing an order. At a minimum we need to know the name of the artist, whether the object is a drawing or a print, and a title or reproduction (please do not send reproductions by fax). If possible please include a register/inventory number, a reference to any standard catalogue, and a note of the location (that is the series and size in which we place the work in our collection).

On receipt of your order, you will be sent a pro-forma invoice. Work will only commence after payment has been received. Please allow up to two months for your order. To speed up your order you should include a credit card mandate so production is not delayed while your payment is clearing.

When placing an order please let us know what you will be using it for. There are no licence restrictions if images are used for private study. However if it is to be reproduced in any way then the Museum will have to grant permission, and there will be a charge if the image will be used for commercial purposes.

You may take pictures of works in display in our exhibition galleries, unless they have been lent to us and the lenders have refused permission for public photography. We do not have the facilities or staff to enable outside photographers to take photographs of works in the Study Room.

Press, television and film companies should contact the Press Office.