The following pieces were selected based on the unusual or untold stories behind them, whether about the artist, subject matter, or historical context that may otherwise go unseen:

Fishing upon the Blythe-Sand, Tide Setting In

Joseph Mallord William Turner

It’s rumored that Turner owned seven cats and may even have used this painting as an impromptu cat flap. Previously torn into five pieces, the canvas has since been repaired. When viewed through the Instagram camera using the Tate’s Spark AR-powered experience, the canvas appears to tear apart once again as a lone tabby jumps through.

Amateurs of Tye-Wig Music (‘Musicians of the Old School’)

Edward Francis Burney

In keeping with this painting’s theme of musical rivalry, the AR effect produces a visual cacophony as a lamp swings wildly, an errant parrot steals a wig, children play pretend instruments, a dog barks, and more.

A Youth Relating Tales to Ladies

Simeon Solomon

Forming an important prelude to queer visual culture of the late 19th century (Solomon was arrested for homosexuality three years after completing the piece), this painting lends itself well to ambiguity. Look through the Instagram camera for some visitors who seem as out of place in our own time as Solomon may have felt in his own.

The Cholmondeley Ladies

Unknown Artist, Britain

Bringing the painting’s inscription to life, this Spark AR effect here emphasizes symmetry through a series of kaleidoscopic vignettes that show twin girls from birth, to their marriage on the same day, to the delivery of their own children in tandem.

Self-Portrait

Gwen John

A bisexual woman working in an industry largely dominated by men, John was also largely overshadowed by her brother Augustus and her wildly famous lover, Rodin. In a moment of empowerment, the Spark AR effect lets you watch as she completes her self-portrait.

Farm at Watendlath

Dora Carrington

This piece juxtaposes the large scale of voluptuous mountains with two tiny female forms in the foreground. Rejecting social norms and conventions around womanhood, the Instagram camera’s AR effect triggers an animation in which the relative scales are switched for a powerful role reversal.

Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose

John Singer Sargent

Sargent was a firm believer in the golden hour — those precious few moments when the light is perfect to capture a scene. This Spark AR effect lets you track the passage of time and its effect on the scene as lanterns flicker, flowers wilt and die, and the light fades to black — to begin again.

Head of a Man (?Ira Frederick Aldridge)

John Simpson

After leaving the US for London in 1865, Ira Frederick Aldridge became the first Black actor to play Shakespeare on a British stage. Is this the portrait of a leading man or an everyman — or is it symbolic of human bondage and the struggle to be free? Moving from left to right with the Instagram camera, the lighting and Aldridge’s gaze change from dramatic to downcast.

“Unlike traditional cameras, today’s smartphones have both immense computing power and an always-on connection to the internet — a combination that turns out to be profound,” explains Matthew Roberts, who heads up Spark AR. “More than just capture, this is a camera that can see. By tapping into a wealth of relevant data alongside AI and computer vision algorithms, we can help people learn and connect to the world around them in meaningful ways.”