The Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) owns a number of significant artworks in its venue at Burlington House in London. The collection is composed of busts, paintings and other artefacts that were mainly acquired between the mid-19th and early 21st centuries (the Chemical Society was founded in 1841 and merged with others to become the RSC in 1980). Most of the acquisitions were donations from past members and staff, although a few were purchased directly by the Society.
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Humphry Davy bust.
The bronze bust of Sir Humphry Davy was created by Ruby Levick and is a reproduction of an earlier sculpture by Miss Moore, donated to the Chemical Society by Rudolph Messell in 1900. At the Annual General Meeting of the Chemical Society of 29 March, Sir Thomas Edward Thorpe (President of the Society), reported on the gift of this work:
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;We are indebted to several of our Fellows for additions to the artistic possessions of the Society. Dr. Debus has presented us with a striking bust of Sir Humphry Davy, a cast of one modelled during his lifetime by Miss Moore. In accordance with the donor’s wishes, this bust now appears in our Meeting Room. On the recommendation of Mr. Thomas Armstrong, C.B., formerly the Art Director of the Science and Art Department, who was much impressed with the artistic quality of Miss Moore’s work, this bust has been copied by Miss Levick, with certain adaptations taken from Sir Thomas Lawrence’s well-known portrait in the possession of the Royal Society, and has been reproduced in bronze. The reproduction, together with its pedestal, has been given by our colleague, Dr. Messel.
Sir Humphry Davy is best remembered today for his discoveries of several alkali and alkaline earth metals, as well as contributions to the discoveries of the elemental nature of chlorine and iodine.
Ruby Levick was a Welsh sculptor and medallist who had many of her works exhibited at the Royal Academy.
John Dalton bust.
The bronze bust of John Dalton was also created by Ruby Levick and was donated to the Chemical Society in 1903 by its former President Sir Thomas Edward Thorpe, as also attested by the inscription engraved on the bust's base: "John Dalton presented by T.E. Thorpe CB. L.L.D. F.R.S. past President in commemoration of the centenary of the enunciation of the atomic theory".
A copy of his accompanying letter was printed in the "Proceedings of the Chemical Society" in 1903 and read out by President William A. Tilden:
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;The bronze is the work of Miss Levick, who is already favourably known to the Society by her reproduction of the bust of Davy in their possession. Of the artistic merits of her present work others must be the judge, but I may be permitted here to express my indebtedness to her for the skill and conscientious care with which she has striven to make a faithful and adequate presentment of the grand old philosopher.
John Dalton was an English chemist best known for his development of atomic theory.
Michael Faraday bust.
A bronze bust representing Michael Faraday, English scientist whose studies greatly contributed to the fields of electromagnetism and electrochemistry. The bust was presented to the Chemical Society by James Emerson Reynolds (1844–1920), president of the Chemical Society from 1901 to 1903:
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;Thursday, November 19th, 1908, at 8.30 p.m., Sir William Ramsay, K.C.B., F.R.S., President, in the Chair. The President announced that the Society had become indebted to J. Emerson Reynolds, F.R.S., for presenting a bust of Michael Faraday.
William Henry Perkin bust.
The marble bust representing Sir William Henry Perkin was presented to the Chemical Society in 1907 by a committee administering the fund subscribed in support of the international celebration for the fiftieth anniversary of the foundation of the Coal Tar Colour Industry. At the Annual General Meeting of the Society, President Raphael Meldola reported on this gift:
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;On the occasion of the International Celebration marking the Fiftieth Anniversary of the Foundation of the Coal Tar Colour Industry, an address of congratulation to Sir William Henry Perkin, F.R.S., was presented on behalf of the Society by the President. In accordance with the resolution of the public meeting at which the commemoration was inaugurated, a marble bust of Sir William Perkin, executed by Mr. F. W. Pomeroy, A.K.A., has been presented to the Society by the Committee administering the Fund subscribed in support of the celebration.
Perkin's fame is mainly related to his discovery of mauveine.
The artist, Frederick William Pomeroy, was a British sculptor mainly prolific in ideal work and portrait busts, but also creator of public monuments.
Henry Roscoe bust.
The marble bust representing Sir Henry Enfield Roscoe by Alfred Drury was donated to the Chemical Society Library on 20 November 1913, on the occasion of Roscoe's eightieth birthday by his friends and pupils, as also attested by the inscription on its base: ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;Roscoe 1913 presented by his pupils.
In 1914 Professor William Perkin Jr., president of the society, reported on the gift of this artefact: ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;It is with very great pleasure that the Council have to report that a bust of the Right Honourable Sir Henry Enfield Roscoe, by Mr. Alfred Drury, R.A., has been presented to the Society by the friends and former students of Sir Henry Roscoe. The presentation was made before a distinguished company in the Rooms of the Society on November 20th, and the bust now adorns the Library.
President of the Chemical Society between 1880 and 1882, Roscoe was student as well as friend of the German chemist Robert Bunsen: in their researches laid the foundation of comparative photochemistry.
English architectural sculptor, Drury was elected Academician of the Royal Academy of Arts in 1913. He studied at the Oxford National Art Training School and in Paris.
Justus von Liebig bust.
The bronze bust representing Baron Justus von Liebig was presented to the Chemical Society by Rudolph Messel in 1903:
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;The bust of Liebig which was placed on the table is a gift which the Society owes to the generosity of our Fellow, Dr. Messel.
as also confirmed by the inscription on the column supporting the bust: ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;Justus von Liebig presented to the Chemical Society by Rudolph Messel Phd May 1903.
Another inscription, placed between the back and the right side of the bust itself, provides information about its origin: ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;Munchen 1873. M. Wagmuller. The artefact was created in Munich in 1873 by Michael Wagmüller, a German sculptor who completed a number of commissions in London and exhibited at the Royal Academy.
Von Liebig is considered to have greatly contributed to the fields of agricultural and biological chemistry. He developed a manufacturing process for beef extracts and founded a company which later became Oxo. He is also credited as the inventor of Marmite.
Augustus Wilhelm von Hofmann bust.
The marble bust representing the German chemist August Wilhelm von Hofmann was introduced to the Chemical Society in 1876 by Mr James Duncan:
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;In recording the gratitude of the Society to those Gentlemen, the name of another Fellow, Mr. James Duncan, must be included among the recipients of our thanks, for his gift of a very interesting and valuable bust of one of our most highly-esteemed Fellows and Past Presidents, Professor Hofmann, the presentation of which, so soon after the Society had the pleasure of welcoming Dr. Hofmann as Faraday Lecturer, has been peculiarly appropriate. It is to be hoped that this handsome gift of Mr. Duncan’s and the excellent photograph of the late Dr. Anderson, presented by his widow, will not long remain the only monumental records of this kind possessed by the Society, of eminent workers in chemical science, past and living.
The inscription at the back ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;Joh. Pfuhl fec. Berlin 1875 certifies that this artwork was created by the German sculptor Johannes Pfuhl in Berlin in 1875.
Justus von Liebig's pupil and William Perkin's mentor, von Hofmann widely contributed to the development of the organic chemistry. He was a cofounder of the German Chemical Society and president of the Chemical Society between 1861 and 1863.
Jean Baptiste André Dumas bust.
A bronze bust of Jean Baptiste André Dumas, the French chemist best known for his works on organic analysis and synthesis, as well as the determination of atomic weights and molecular weights by measuring vapour densities.
The sculpture was presented to the Chemical Society in 1885 by Warren De la Rue:
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;We have to thank one of our Past Presidents, Dr. De la Rue, who has always shown himself so ready to do anything that will add to the interest of the Society, for the bronze bust of the late Professor Dumas, which has now been placed in the library. It is contemplated placing this, and also that of Professor Hofmann, in more suitable positions than they now occupy.
An inscription on the right side of the bust provides us further information: ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;Eug Cvillavme 1883. The work was created in 1883 by Jean-Baptiste Claude Eugène Guillaume, a French sculptor elected honorary member of the Royal Academy in 1869.
Robert Boyle bust.
A bust of Robert Boyle, often regarded today as the first modern chemist.
Acquired by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2003 from the Chelminski Gallery, this veined white marble bust was originally commissioned in 1731 from the Italian sculptor Giovanni Battista Guelfi (1690–1736) by Lord Burlington, a relative of Boyle's, for Burlington House, which was then the earl's residence in London.
This work, originally displayed at Lord Burlington's Palladian villa, Chiswick House, is virtually identical to that commissioned by Queen Caroline for her grotto at Richmond in 1732–3. The latter survives in the Royal Collection at Kensington Palace and has long been well-known. However, this other version of Guelfi's bust had hitherto been entirely unknown to Boyle scholars.
Guelfi was an Italian sculptor who trained with Camillo Rusconi in Rome and was invited by Lord Burlington, in 1714, to move to England, where he restored the Arundel marbles and executed several portrait busts and monuments.
Joseph Priestley airpump.
This artefact was created in the 18th century. Made of gunmetal raised on a cross-banded walnut and oak base (32 cm × 44 cm. × 25.5 cm), it bears a presentation plaque with the following inscription:
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;This airpump was made for Dr Priestley by Mr Harrison the employer of Sir Josiah Mason when a young man. Presented by Josiah Martin Smith ESQ.
Samuel Harrison (1759–1833) was a split ring maker with a workshop in Lancaster Street, Birmingham. He was a member of Priestley's congregation at the New Meeting and is known to have assisted Priestley with his experiments.
Joseph Priestley statuette.
Raised on an oak plinth is a plaster, full-length figure of Joseph Priestley holding in his hands mortar and pestle, signed and inscribed "Esher" and dated 1874. Another inscription confirms that the statue was presented in 1920 by Mrs Bedford McNeill, as stated in the "Journal and Proceedings of the Institute of Chemists of Great Britain and Ireland" of that year:
 ;templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" / ;I am pleased, however, to call your attention to a bronzed cast of the figure of Priestley, a replica of the well-known statue by Williamson (the father of one of our Fellows). This has been received from Mrs. Bedford McNeill, whose husband was a Priestley Scholar, a Fellow and Member of Council. We are glad to have it in memory of an esteemed colleague and also because you will recognise that the design is the main feature of the Seal of the Institute.
The full size version of this sculpture by Francis John Williamson is located in Birmingham. It was originally made in marble, then re-cast in bronze and it portrays Dr Priestley absorbed in an experiment which led to his discovery of oxygen.
"Hope: The Chemist".
This painting (oil on canvas, 127 cm × 158 cm), was bought from the Albemarle Gallery by the Royal Society of Chemistry in 2008. It is part of Stuart Luke Gatherer's "Sins and Virtues" collection, which illustrates the seven sins and seven virtues using modern-day professions.
It is based on an earlier classic, "An Experiment on a Bird in the Air Pump" (1768) by Joseph Wright, which was in turn inspired by Robert Boyle's experiment on the properties of air in the