What is watercolour?
Our extensive collection of watercolours tell a fascinating story of the medium
Watercolour
Watercolour is a beautiful and often surprising medium that has been used by artists in a variety of ways dating back to medieval illuminated manuscripts. The V&A's extensive collection includes exquisite portrait miniatures of Elizabeth I by Nicholas Hilliard, landscapes by JR Cozens, JMW Turner, Samuel Palmer and Eric Ravilious, keenly observed botanical and topographical records, and virtuoso exercises in watercolour technique.
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The eclectic collection, which includes both British and European works ranging from the 16th century to the 20th century, is particularly strong in well-known British artists. It also reveals how taste has changed in the use and appreciation of the medium. For example, while elaborate gilt-framed exhibition paintings were fashionable in the early 19th century, William Blake's now popular watercolours from the same time only became widely appreciated later in the century. Similarly, the personal studies from nature by artists such as John Constable and John Sell Cotman only came to public attention long after their deaths. The varied and changing character of the medium can be fully explored in the V&A's collection.
Collection highlights
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Study of sea and gulls, watercolour, by John Sell Cotman, 1832, Britain -
Double-sided leaf from a calendar, by Simon Bening, 1510 – 60, Flanders, Belgium -
Nonsuch Palace from the South, watercolour, by Joris Hoefnagel, 1568, England -
Snowdrop with a Painted Lady Butterfly, by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, about 1575, France -
Citron, watercolour, by Vincenzo Leonardi, about 1640, Rome, Italy -
Kirkstall Abbey, Yorkshire: Evening, by Thomas Girtin, about 1800 – 1801, England -
The Angels hovering over the body of Christ in the Sepulchre, by William Blake, about 1805, Britain -
Holy Island, Northumberland, by Joseph Mallord William Turner, about 1829, England -
In a Shoreham Garden, watercolour, by Samuel Palmer, about 1830, England -
Potter Gate, Lincoln, by Peter De Wint, about 1800 – 49, England -
Primroses and Bird's Nests, by William Henry Hunt, about 1850, England -
Dorigen of Bretagne longing for the safe return of her husband, by Edward Coley Burne-Jones, 1871, England -
The Long Man of Wilmington, by Eric Ravilious, 1939, England
Features
The botanical album of Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues
Explore the 16th century album of exquisite watercolours in high definition
A watercolour painting of a pomegranate by Lucy T Smith
Possibly the most soothing 40 minutes experience you'll have this week
Constable's watercolour sketches
Take a closer look at the techniques used by Constable in his later works
Renaissance watercolours: materials and techniques
Discover the qualities that made watercolour the medium of choice for artists during the Renaissance
Handling and care of precious books: ASMR
Experience the National Art Library – a calm and tranquil yet deeply sensory space
Header image: Sea and Gulls, by John Sell Cotman, 1832. Museum no. P.17-1973. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London