The Royal Marines Museum collection of oil paintings is part of very large collections which cover a number of subject disciplines. The collections comprise paintings which cover a large part of Royal Marines history. It is a diverse collection, including works from well-known artists, such as James Northcote, to works completed by Royal Marines themselves. The works originate from a wide variety of sources; most have been acquired by donation or purchase, whilst others have been commissioned by the Royal Marines in the past often for use in their messes. Some have also been commissioned by the Museum either for display purposes or as part of contemporary collecting projects.