diff --git a/docs/changes.txt b/docs/changes.txt
index 04c318080a..3fecbee9ed 100644
--- a/docs/changes.txt
+++ b/docs/changes.txt
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ All (GUI):
 - Send events when toggling wxPropertyGrid nodes from keyboard (Armel Asselin).
 - Fix wxRearrangeList::Check() which asserted and misbehaved before.
 - Optimized wxRTC insertion and deletion when floating objects are present.
+- Added on-demand image loading option to wxRTC.
 
 wxGTK:
 
diff --git a/include/wx/richtext/richtextbuffer.h b/include/wx/richtext/richtextbuffer.h
index e12dd055ee..32c2fa67c9 100644
--- a/include/wx/richtext/richtextbuffer.h
+++ b/include/wx/richtext/richtextbuffer.h
@@ -2211,7 +2211,8 @@ public:
     */
     wxRichTextDrawingContext(wxRichTextBuffer* buffer);
 
-    void Init() { m_buffer = NULL; m_enableVirtualAttributes = true; m_enableImages = true; m_layingOut = false; }
+    void Init()
+    { m_buffer = NULL; m_enableVirtualAttributes = true; m_enableImages = true; m_layingOut = false; m_enableDelayedImageLoading = false; }
 
     /**
         Does this object have virtual attributes?
@@ -2293,9 +2294,22 @@ public:
 
     bool GetLayingOut() const { return m_layingOut; }
 
+    /**
+        Enable or disable delayed image loading
+    */
+
+    void EnableDelayedImageLoading(bool b) { m_enableDelayedImageLoading = b; }
+
+    /**
+        Returns @true if delayed image loading is enabled.
+    */
+
+    bool GetDelayedImageLoading() const { return m_enableDelayedImageLoading; }
+
     wxRichTextBuffer*   m_buffer;
     bool                m_enableVirtualAttributes;
     bool                m_enableImages;
+    bool                m_enableDelayedImageLoading;
     bool                m_layingOut;
 };
 
@@ -2428,7 +2442,6 @@ public:
     virtual bool Merge(wxRichTextObject* WXUNUSED(object), wxRichTextDrawingContext& WXUNUSED(context)) { return false; }
 
     /**
-        JACS
         Returns @true if this object can potentially be split, by virtue of having
         different virtual attributes for individual sub-objects.
     */
@@ -4742,6 +4755,8 @@ class WXDLLIMPEXP_RICHTEXT wxRichTextImage: public wxRichTextObject
 {
     DECLARE_DYNAMIC_CLASS(wxRichTextImage)
 public:
+    enum { ImageState_Unloaded, ImageState_Loaded, ImageState_Bad };
+
 // Constructors
 
     /**
@@ -4824,12 +4839,12 @@ public:
     /**
         Sets the image cache.
     */
-    void SetImageCache(const wxBitmap& bitmap) { m_imageCache = bitmap; m_originalImageSize = wxSize(bitmap.GetWidth(), bitmap.GetHeight()); }
+    void SetImageCache(const wxBitmap& bitmap) { m_imageCache = bitmap; m_originalImageSize = wxSize(bitmap.GetWidth(), bitmap.GetHeight()); m_imageState = ImageState_Loaded; }
 
     /**
         Resets the image cache.
     */
-    void ResetImageCache() { m_imageCache = wxNullBitmap; m_originalImageSize = wxSize(-1, -1); }
+    void ResetImageCache() { m_imageCache = wxNullBitmap; m_originalImageSize = wxSize(-1, -1); m_imageState = ImageState_Unloaded; }
 
     /**
         Returns the image block containing the raw data.
@@ -4851,7 +4866,12 @@ public:
     /**
         Creates a cached image at the required size.
     */
-    virtual bool LoadImageCache(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, bool resetCache = false, const wxSize& parentSize = wxDefaultSize);
+    virtual bool LoadImageCache(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, wxSize& retImageSize, bool resetCache = false, const wxSize& parentSize = wxDefaultSize);
+
+    /**
+        Do the loading and scaling
+    */
+    virtual bool LoadAndScaleImageCache(wxImage& image, const wxSize& sz, bool delayLoading, bool& changed);
 
     /**
         Gets the original image size.
@@ -4863,10 +4883,21 @@ public:
     */
     void SetOriginalImageSize(const wxSize& sz) { m_originalImageSize = sz; }
 
+    /**
+        Gets the image state.
+    */
+    int GetImageState() const { return m_imageState; }
+
+    /**
+        Sets the image state.
+    */
+    void SetImageState(int state) { m_imageState = state; }
+
 protected:
     wxRichTextImageBlock    m_imageBlock;
     wxBitmap                m_imageCache;
     wxSize                  m_originalImageSize;
+    int                     m_imageState;
 };
 
 class WXDLLIMPEXP_FWD_RICHTEXT wxRichTextCommand;
diff --git a/include/wx/richtext/richtextctrl.h b/include/wx/richtext/richtextctrl.h
index 3f3ef8bda2..52fe8f17b4 100644
--- a/include/wx/richtext/richtextctrl.h
+++ b/include/wx/richtext/richtextctrl.h
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
 
 #include "wx/scrolwin.h"
 #include "wx/caret.h"
-
+#include "wx/timer.h"
 #include "wx/textctrl.h"
 
 #if wxUSE_DRAG_AND_DROP
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ class WXDLLIMPEXP_FWD_RICHTEXT wxRichTextStyleDefinition;
 #define wxRICHTEXT_DEFAULT_DELAYED_LAYOUT_THRESHOLD 20000
 // Milliseconds before layout occurs after resize
 #define wxRICHTEXT_DEFAULT_LAYOUT_INTERVAL 50
+// Milliseconds before delayed image processing occurs
+#define wxRICHTEXT_DEFAULT_DELAYED_IMAGE_PROCESSING_INTERVAL 200
 
 /* Identifiers
  */
@@ -1980,6 +1982,12 @@ public:
     */
     bool RefreshForSelectionChange(const wxRichTextSelection& oldSelection, const wxRichTextSelection& newSelection);
 
+    /**
+        Overrides standard refresh in order to provoke delayed image loading.
+    */
+    virtual void Refresh( bool eraseBackground = true,
+                       const wxRect *rect = (const wxRect *) NULL );
+
     /**
         Sets the caret position.
 
@@ -2134,6 +2142,38 @@ public:
 
     bool GetImagesEnabled() const { return m_enableImages; }
 
+    /**
+        Enable or disable delayed image loading
+    */
+
+    void EnableDelayedImageLoading(bool b) { m_enableDelayedImageLoading = b; }
+
+    /**
+        Returns @true if delayed image loading is enabled.
+    */
+
+    bool GetDelayedImageLoading() const { return m_enableDelayedImageLoading; }
+
+    /**
+        Gets the flag indicating that delayed image processing is required.
+    */
+    bool GetDelayedImageProcessingRequired() const { return m_delayedImageProcessingRequired; }
+
+    /**
+        Sets the flag indicating that delayed image processing is required.
+    */
+    void SetDelayedImageProcessingRequired(bool b) { m_delayedImageProcessingRequired = b; }
+
+    /**
+        Returns the last time delayed image processing was performed.
+    */
+    wxLongLong GetDelayedImageProcessingTime() const { return m_delayedImageProcessingTime; }
+
+    /**
+        Sets the last time delayed image processing was performed.
+    */
+    void SetDelayedImageProcessingTime(wxLongLong t) { m_delayedImageProcessingTime = t; }
+
 #ifdef DOXYGEN
     /**
         Returns the content of the entire control as a string.
@@ -2209,6 +2249,22 @@ public:
     // implement wxTextEntry methods
     virtual wxString DoGetValue() const;
 
+    /**
+        Do delayed image loading and garbage-collect other images
+    */
+    bool ProcessDelayedImageLoading(bool refresh);
+    bool ProcessDelayedImageLoading(const wxRect& screenRect, wxRichTextParagraphLayoutBox* box, int& loadCount);
+
+    /**
+        Request delayed image processing.
+    */
+    void RequestDelayedImageProcessing();
+
+    /**
+        Respond to timer events.
+    */
+    void OnTimer(wxTimerEvent& event);
+
 protected:
     // implement the wxTextEntry pure virtual method
     virtual wxWindow *GetEditableWindow() { return this; }
@@ -2336,6 +2392,12 @@ protected:
 
     /// Whether images are enabled for this control
     bool                    m_enableImages;
+
+    /// Whether delayed image loading is enabled for this control
+    bool                    m_enableDelayedImageLoading;
+    bool                    m_delayedImageProcessingRequired;
+    wxLongLong              m_delayedImageProcessingTime;
+    wxTimer                 m_delayedImageProcessingTimer;
 };
 
 #if wxUSE_DRAG_AND_DROP
diff --git a/interface/wx/richtext/richtextbuffer.h b/interface/wx/richtext/richtextbuffer.h
index 95a1076cf7..1d2365b528 100644
--- a/interface/wx/richtext/richtextbuffer.h
+++ b/interface/wx/richtext/richtextbuffer.h
@@ -2123,9 +2123,35 @@ public:
 
     bool GetImagesEnabled() const { return m_enableImages; }
 
+    /**
+        Set laying out flag
+    */
+
+    void SetLayingOut(bool b) { m_layingOut = b; }
+
+    /**
+        Returns @true if laying out.
+    */
+
+    bool GetLayingOut() const { return m_layingOut; }
+
+    /**
+        Enable or disable delayed image loading
+    */
+
+    void EnableDelayedImageLoading(bool b) { m_enableDelayedImageLoading = b; }
+
+    /**
+        Returns @true if delayed image loading is enabled.
+    */
+
+    bool GetDelayedImageLoading() const { return m_enableDelayedImageLoading; }
+
     wxRichTextBuffer*   m_buffer;
     bool                m_enableVirtualAttributes;
     bool                m_enableImages;
+    bool                m_enableDelayedImageLoading;
+    bool                m_layingOut;
 };
 
 /**
@@ -4671,11 +4697,38 @@ public:
     /**
         Creates a cached image at the required size.
     */
-    virtual bool LoadImageCache(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, bool resetCache = false, const wxSize& parentSize = wxDefaultSize);
+    virtual bool LoadImageCache(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, wxSize& retImageSize, bool resetCache = false, const wxSize& parentSize = wxDefaultSize);
+
+    /**
+        Do the loading and scaling
+    */
+    virtual bool LoadAndScaleImageCache(wxImage& image, const wxSize& sz, bool delayLoading, bool& changed);
+
+    /**
+        Gets the original image size.
+    */
+    wxSize GetOriginalImageSize() const { return m_originalImageSize; }
+
+    /**
+        Sets the original image size.
+    */
+    void SetOriginalImageSize(const wxSize& sz) { m_originalImageSize = sz; }
+
+    /**
+        Gets the image state.
+    */
+    int GetImageState() const { return m_imageState; }
+
+    /**
+        Sets the image state.
+    */
+    void SetImageState(int state) { m_imageState = state; }
 
 protected:
     wxRichTextImageBlock    m_imageBlock;
     wxBitmap                m_imageCache;
+    wxSize                  m_originalImageSize;
+    int                     m_imageState;
 };
 
 class wxRichTextCommand;
diff --git a/interface/wx/richtext/richtextctrl.h b/interface/wx/richtext/richtextctrl.h
index 4c6bca1e5f..2ada97c629 100644
--- a/interface/wx/richtext/richtextctrl.h
+++ b/interface/wx/richtext/richtextctrl.h
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@
 #define wxRICHTEXT_DEFAULT_DELAYED_LAYOUT_THRESHOLD 20000
 // Milliseconds before layout occurs after resize
 #define wxRICHTEXT_DEFAULT_LAYOUT_INTERVAL 50
+// Milliseconds before delayed image processing occurs
+#define wxRICHTEXT_DEFAULT_DELAYED_IMAGE_PROCESSING_INTERVAL 200
 
 /* Identifiers
  */
@@ -2044,6 +2046,38 @@ public:
 
     bool GetImagesEnabled() const;
 
+    /**
+        Enable or disable delayed image loading
+    */
+
+    void EnableDelayedImageLoading(bool b) { m_enableDelayedImageLoading = b; }
+
+    /**
+        Returns @true if delayed image loading is enabled.
+    */
+
+    bool GetDelayedImageLoading() const { return m_enableDelayedImageLoading; }
+
+    /**
+        Gets the flag indicating that delayed image processing is required.
+    */
+    bool GetDelayedImageProcessingRequired() const { return m_delayedImageProcessingRequired; }
+
+    /**
+        Sets the flag indicating that delayed image processing is required.
+    */
+    void SetDelayedImageProcessingRequired(bool b) { m_delayedImageProcessingRequired = b; }
+
+    /**
+        Returns the last time delayed image processing was performed.
+    */
+    wxLongLong GetDelayedImageProcessingTime() const { return m_delayedImageProcessingTime; }
+
+    /**
+        Sets the last time delayed image processing was performed.
+    */
+    void SetDelayedImageProcessingTime(wxLongLong t) { m_delayedImageProcessingTime = t; }
+
     /**
         Returns the caret position since the default formatting was changed. As
         soon as this position changes, we no longer reflect the default style
@@ -2137,6 +2171,22 @@ public:
     // implement wxTextEntry methods
     virtual wxString DoGetValue() const;
 
+    /**
+        Do delayed image loading and garbage-collect other images
+    */
+    bool ProcessDelayedImageLoading(bool refresh);
+    bool ProcessDelayedImageLoading(const wxRect& screenRect, wxRichTextParagraphLayoutBox* box, int& loadCount);
+
+    /**
+        Request delayed image processing.
+    */
+    void RequestDelayedImageProcessing();
+
+    /**
+        Respond to timer events.
+    */
+    void OnTimer(wxTimerEvent& event);
+
 protected:
     // implement the wxTextEntry pure virtual method
     virtual wxWindow *GetEditableWindow();
@@ -2220,6 +2270,23 @@ protected:
 
     /// The object that currently has the editing focus
     wxRichTextParagraphLayoutBox* m_focusObject;
+
+    /// An overall scale factor
+    double                  m_scale;
+
+    /// Variables for scrollbar hysteresis detection
+    wxSize                  m_lastWindowSize;
+    int                     m_setupScrollbarsCount;
+    int                     m_setupScrollbarsCountInOnSize;
+
+    /// Whether images are enabled for this control
+    bool                    m_enableImages;
+
+    /// Whether delayed image loading is enabled for this control
+    bool                    m_enableDelayedImageLoading;
+    bool                    m_delayedImageProcessingRequired;
+    wxLongLong              m_delayedImageProcessingTime;
+    wxTimer                 m_delayedImageProcessingTimer;
 };
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/richtext/richtextbuffer.cpp b/src/richtext/richtextbuffer.cpp
index 5c5de592db..ec47ad7b94 100644
--- a/src/richtext/richtextbuffer.cpp
+++ b/src/richtext/richtextbuffer.cpp
@@ -5150,7 +5150,8 @@ bool wxRichTextParagraph::Layout(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, co
         }
         while (doLoop);
 
-        if (child->IsTopLevel())
+        // 2014-03-08: also need to set object positions
+        //if (child->IsTopLevel())
         {
             // We can move it to the correct position at this point
             // TODO: probably need to add margin
@@ -12213,17 +12214,24 @@ wxRichTextImage::~wxRichTextImage()
 void wxRichTextImage::Init()
 {
     m_originalImageSize = wxSize(-1, -1);
+    m_imageState = ImageState_Unloaded;
 }
 
 /// Create a cached image at the required size
-bool wxRichTextImage::LoadImageCache(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, bool resetCache, const wxSize& parentSize)
+bool wxRichTextImage::LoadImageCache(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, wxSize& retImageSize, bool resetCache, const wxSize& parentSize)
 {
     if (!m_imageBlock.IsOk())
+    {
+        m_imageState = ImageState_Bad;
         return false;
+    }
 
     // Don't repeat unless absolutely necessary
     if (m_imageCache.IsOk() && !resetCache && !context.GetLayingOut())
+    {
+        retImageSize = wxSize(m_imageCache.GetWidth(), m_imageCache.GetHeight());
         return true;
+    }
 
     if (!context.GetImagesEnabled())
     {
@@ -12231,7 +12239,9 @@ bool wxRichTextImage::LoadImageCache(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context
         {
             wxBitmap bitmap(image_placeholder24x24_xpm);
             m_imageCache = bitmap;
+            m_imageState = ImageState_Loaded;
         }
+        retImageSize = wxSize(m_imageCache.GetWidth(), m_imageCache.GetHeight());
         return true;
     }
 
@@ -12243,13 +12253,15 @@ bool wxRichTextImage::LoadImageCache(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context
     if (resetCache || m_originalImageSize.GetWidth() <= 0 || m_originalImageSize.GetHeight() <= 0)
     {
         m_imageCache = wxNullBitmap;
+        m_imageState = ImageState_Unloaded;
 
-        m_imageBlock.Load(image);
-        if (!image.IsOk())
+        if (!m_imageBlock.Load(image) || !image.IsOk())
         {
             wxBitmap bitmap(image_placeholder24x24_xpm);
             m_imageCache = bitmap;
             m_originalImageSize = wxSize(bitmap.GetWidth(), bitmap.GetHeight());
+            m_imageState = ImageState_Bad;
+            retImageSize = wxSize(m_imageCache.GetWidth(), m_imageCache.GetHeight());
             return false;
         }
 
@@ -12359,24 +12371,49 @@ bool wxRichTextImage::LoadImageCache(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context
     width = wxMax(1, width);
     height = wxMax(1, height);
 
+    retImageSize = wxSize(width, height);
+
+    bool changed = false;
+    return LoadAndScaleImageCache(image, retImageSize, context.GetDelayedImageLoading(), changed);
+}
+
+// Do the loading and scaling
+bool wxRichTextImage::LoadAndScaleImageCache(wxImage& image, const wxSize& sz, bool delayLoading, bool& changed)
+{
+    int width = sz.x;
+    int height = sz.y;
+
     if (m_imageCache.IsOk() && m_imageCache.GetWidth() == width && m_imageCache.GetHeight() == height)
     {
         // Do nothing, we didn't need to change the image cache
+        changed = false;
     }
     else
     {
+        changed = true;
+
+        if (delayLoading)
+        {
+            if (m_imageCache.IsOk())
+                m_imageCache = wxNullBitmap;
+            m_imageState = ImageState_Unloaded;
+            return true;
+        }
+
         if (!image.IsOk())
         {
-            m_imageBlock.Load(image);
-            if (!image.IsOk())
+            if (!m_imageBlock.Load(image) || !image.IsOk())
             {
                 wxBitmap bitmap(image_placeholder24x24_xpm);
                 m_imageCache = bitmap;
                 m_originalImageSize = wxSize(bitmap.GetWidth(), bitmap.GetHeight());
+                m_imageState = ImageState_Bad;
                 return false;
             }
         }
 
+        m_originalImageSize = wxSize(image.GetWidth(), image.GetHeight());
+
         if (image.GetWidth() == width && image.GetHeight() == height)
             m_imageCache = wxBitmap(image);
         else
@@ -12397,6 +12434,11 @@ bool wxRichTextImage::LoadImageCache(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context
         }
     }
 
+    if (m_imageCache.IsOk())
+        m_imageState = ImageState_Loaded;
+    else
+        m_imageState = ImageState_Bad;
+
     return m_imageCache.IsOk();
 }
 
@@ -12406,9 +12448,6 @@ bool wxRichTextImage::Draw(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, const wx
     if (!IsShown())
         return true;
 
-    if (!m_imageCache.IsOk())
-        return false;
-
     wxRichTextAttr attr(GetAttributes());
     AdjustAttributes(attr, context);
 
@@ -12419,7 +12458,14 @@ bool wxRichTextImage::Draw(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, const wx
     marginRect = rect; // outer rectangle, will calculate contentRect
     GetBoxRects(dc, GetBuffer(), attr, marginRect, borderRect, contentRect, paddingRect, outlineRect);
 
-    dc.DrawBitmap(m_imageCache, contentRect.x, contentRect.y, true);
+    if (m_imageCache.IsOk())
+        dc.DrawBitmap(m_imageCache, contentRect.x, contentRect.y, true);
+    else
+    {
+        dc.SetPen(*wxLIGHT_GREY_PEN);
+        dc.SetBrush(*wxTRANSPARENT_BRUSH);
+        dc.DrawRectangle(contentRect);
+    }
 
     if (selection.WithinSelection(GetRange().GetStart(), this))
     {
@@ -12436,10 +12482,10 @@ bool wxRichTextImage::Draw(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, const wx
 /// Lay the item out
 bool wxRichTextImage::Layout(wxDC& dc, wxRichTextDrawingContext& context, const wxRect& rect, const wxRect& parentRect, int WXUNUSED(style))
 {
-    if (!LoadImageCache(dc, context, false, parentRect.GetSize()))
+    wxSize imageSize;
+    if (!LoadImageCache(dc, context, imageSize, false, parentRect.GetSize()))
         return false;
 
-    wxSize imageSize(m_imageCache.GetWidth(), m_imageCache.GetHeight());
     wxRect marginRect, borderRect, contentRect, paddingRect, outlineRect;
     contentRect = wxRect(wxPoint(0,0), imageSize);
 
@@ -12465,7 +12511,8 @@ bool wxRichTextImage::GetRangeSize(const wxRichTextRange& range, wxSize& size, i
     if (!range.IsWithin(GetRange()))
         return false;
 
-    if (!((wxRichTextImage*)this)->LoadImageCache(dc, context, false, parentSize))
+    wxSize imageSize;
+    if (!((wxRichTextImage*)this)->LoadImageCache(dc, context, imageSize, false, parentSize))
     {
         size.x = 0; size.y = 0;
         if (partialExtents)
@@ -12476,7 +12523,6 @@ bool wxRichTextImage::GetRangeSize(const wxRichTextRange& range, wxSize& size, i
     wxRichTextAttr attr(GetAttributes());
     ((wxRichTextObject*)this)->AdjustAttributes(attr, context);
 
-    wxSize imageSize(m_imageCache.GetWidth(), m_imageCache.GetHeight());
     wxRect marginRect, borderRect, contentRect, paddingRect, outlineRect;
     contentRect = wxRect(wxPoint(0,0), imageSize);
     GetBoxRects(dc, GetBuffer(), attr, marginRect, borderRect, contentRect, paddingRect, outlineRect);
@@ -15040,6 +15086,7 @@ wxRichTextDrawingContext::wxRichTextDrawingContext(wxRichTextBuffer* buffer)
     {
         EnableVirtualAttributes(m_buffer->GetRichTextCtrl()->GetVirtualAttributesEnabled());
         m_enableImages = m_buffer->GetRichTextCtrl()->GetImagesEnabled();
+        m_enableDelayedImageLoading = m_buffer->GetRichTextCtrl()->GetDelayedImageLoading();
     }
 }
 
diff --git a/src/richtext/richtextctrl.cpp b/src/richtext/richtextctrl.cpp
index 2cb5e7b505..3057450c3c 100644
--- a/src/richtext/richtextctrl.cpp
+++ b/src/richtext/richtextctrl.cpp
@@ -177,6 +177,7 @@ BEGIN_EVENT_TABLE( wxRichTextCtrl, wxControl )
     EVT_MOUSE_CAPTURE_LOST(wxRichTextCtrl::OnCaptureLost)
     EVT_CONTEXT_MENU(wxRichTextCtrl::OnContextMenu)
     EVT_SYS_COLOUR_CHANGED(wxRichTextCtrl::OnSysColourChanged)
+    EVT_TIMER(wxID_ANY, wxRichTextCtrl::OnTimer)
 
     EVT_MENU(wxID_UNDO, wxRichTextCtrl::OnUndo)
     EVT_UPDATE_UI(wxID_UNDO, wxRichTextCtrl::OnUpdateUndo)
@@ -350,6 +351,8 @@ wxRichTextCtrl::~wxRichTextCtrl()
     GetBuffer().RemoveEventHandler(this);
 
     delete m_contextMenu;
+
+    m_delayedImageProcessingTimer.Stop();
 }
 
 /// Member initialisation
@@ -382,6 +385,10 @@ void wxRichTextCtrl::Init()
     m_setupScrollbarsCountInOnSize = 0;
 
     m_enableImages = true;
+
+    m_enableDelayedImageLoading = false;
+    m_delayedImageProcessingRequired = false;
+    m_delayedImageProcessingTime = 0;
 }
 
 void wxRichTextCtrl::DoThaw()
@@ -2602,6 +2609,9 @@ void wxRichTextCtrl::OnSize(wxSizeEvent& event)
     // OnSize was the source of a scrollbar change.
     m_setupScrollbarsCountInOnSize = m_setupScrollbarsCount;
 
+    if (GetDelayedImageLoading())
+        RequestDelayedImageProcessing();
+
     event.Skip();
 }
 
@@ -2642,6 +2652,16 @@ void wxRichTextCtrl::OnIdle(wxIdleEvent& event)
         Refresh(false);
     }
 
+    const int imageProcessingInterval = wxRICHTEXT_DEFAULT_DELAYED_IMAGE_PROCESSING_INTERVAL;
+
+    if (m_enableDelayedImageLoading && m_delayedImageProcessingRequired && (wxGetLocalTimeMillis() > (m_delayedImageProcessingTime + imageProcessingInterval)))
+    {
+        m_delayedImageProcessingTimer.Stop();
+        m_delayedImageProcessingRequired = false;
+        m_delayedImageProcessingTime = 0;
+        ProcessDelayedImageLoading(true);
+    }
+
     if (m_caretPositionForDefaultStyle != -2)
     {
         // If the caret position has changed, no longer reflect the default style
@@ -4045,6 +4065,9 @@ bool wxRichTextCtrl::LayoutContent(bool onlyVisibleRect)
 
         if (!IsFrozen() && !onlyVisibleRect)
             SetupScrollbars();
+
+        if (GetDelayedImageLoading())
+            RequestDelayedImageProcessing();
     }
 
     return true;
@@ -4668,6 +4691,15 @@ bool wxRichTextCtrl::RefreshForSelectionChange(const wxRichTextSelection& oldSel
     return true;
 }
 
+// Overrides standard refresh in order to provoke delayed image loading.
+void wxRichTextCtrl::Refresh( bool eraseBackground, const wxRect *rect)
+{
+    if (GetDelayedImageLoading())
+        RequestDelayedImageProcessing();
+
+    wxWindow::Refresh(eraseBackground, rect);
+}
+
 // margins functions
 bool wxRichTextCtrl::DoSetMargins(const wxPoint& pt)
 {
@@ -4906,6 +4938,112 @@ wxRect wxRichTextCtrl::GetScaledRect(const wxRect& rect) const
                       (int) (0.5 + double(rect.width) * GetScale()), (int) (0.5 + double(rect.height) * GetScale()));
 }
 
+// Do delayed image loading and garbage-collect other images
+bool wxRichTextCtrl::ProcessDelayedImageLoading(bool refresh)
+{
+    int loadCount = 0;
+
+    wxSize clientSize = GetUnscaledSize(GetClientSize());
+    wxPoint firstVisiblePt = GetUnscaledPoint(GetFirstVisiblePoint());
+    wxRect screenRect(firstVisiblePt, clientSize);
+
+    // Expand screen rect so that we actually process images in the vicinity,
+    // for smoother paging and scrolling.
+    screenRect.y -= (clientSize.y*3);
+    screenRect.height += (clientSize.y*6);
+    ProcessDelayedImageLoading(screenRect, & GetBuffer(), loadCount);
+
+    if (loadCount > 0 && refresh)
+    {
+        wxWindow::Refresh(false);
+    }
+
+    return loadCount > 0;
+}
+
+bool wxRichTextCtrl::ProcessDelayedImageLoading(const wxRect& screenRect, wxRichTextParagraphLayoutBox* box, int& loadCount)
+{
+    if (!box || !box->IsShown())
+        return true;
+
+    wxRichTextObjectList::compatibility_iterator node = box->GetChildren().GetFirst();
+    while (node)
+    {
+        // Could be a cell or a paragraph
+        wxRichTextCompositeObject* composite = wxDynamicCast(node->GetData(), wxRichTextCompositeObject);
+        if (composite->IsTopLevel())
+            ProcessDelayedImageLoading(screenRect, wxDynamicCast(composite, wxRichTextParagraphLayoutBox), loadCount);
+        else // assume a paragraph
+        {
+            wxRichTextObjectList::compatibility_iterator node2 = composite->GetChildren().GetFirst();
+            while (node2)
+            {
+                wxRichTextObject* obj = node2->GetData();
+                if (obj->IsTopLevel())
+                    ProcessDelayedImageLoading(screenRect, wxDynamicCast(obj, wxRichTextParagraphLayoutBox), loadCount);
+                else
+                {
+                    wxRichTextImage* imageObj = wxDynamicCast(obj, wxRichTextImage);
+                    if (imageObj && imageObj->IsShown())
+                    {
+                        const wxRect& rect(imageObj->GetRect());
+                        if ((rect.GetBottom() < screenRect.GetTop()) || (rect.GetTop() > screenRect.GetBottom()))
+                        {
+                            // Off-screen
+                            imageObj->ResetImageCache();
+                        }
+                        else
+                        {
+                            // On-screen
+                            wxRichTextDrawingContext context(& GetBuffer());
+                            context.SetLayingOut(true);
+                            context.EnableDelayedImageLoading(false);
+
+                            wxRect marginRect, borderRect, contentRect, paddingRect, outlineRect;
+                            marginRect = imageObj->GetRect(); // outer rectangle, will calculate contentRect
+                            if (marginRect.GetSize() != wxDefaultSize)
+                            {
+                                wxClientDC dc(this);
+                                wxRichTextAttr attr(imageObj->GetAttributes());
+                                imageObj->AdjustAttributes(attr, context);
+                                imageObj->GetBoxRects(dc, & GetBuffer(), attr, marginRect, borderRect, contentRect, paddingRect, outlineRect);
+
+                                wxImage image;
+                                bool changed = false;
+                                if (imageObj->LoadAndScaleImageCache(image, contentRect.GetSize(), false, changed) && changed)
+                                {
+                                    loadCount ++;
+                                }
+                            }
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+                node2 = node2->GetNext();
+            }
+        }
+
+        node = node->GetNext();
+    }
+
+    return true;
+}
+
+void wxRichTextCtrl::RequestDelayedImageProcessing()
+{
+    SetDelayedImageProcessingRequired(true);
+    SetDelayedImageProcessingTime(wxGetLocalTimeMillis());
+    m_delayedImageProcessingTimer.SetOwner(this, GetId());
+    m_delayedImageProcessingTimer.Start(wxRICHTEXT_DEFAULT_DELAYED_IMAGE_PROCESSING_INTERVAL);
+}
+
+void wxRichTextCtrl::OnTimer(wxTimerEvent& event)
+{
+    if (event.GetId() == GetId())
+        wxWakeUpIdle();
+    else
+        event.Skip();
+}
+
 #if wxRICHTEXT_USE_OWN_CARET
 
 // ----------------------------------------------------------------------------