Display Opening on Wednesday, 2 December 2020

Renaissance Watercolours

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  • Opening on Wednesday, 2 December 2020

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This display presents for the first time watercolour during the Renaissance as a unified art form, highlighting its versatility and pivotal role in understanding, interpreting and documenting the natural world. 

Display Highlights

drawing
Canterbury Cathedral font design, watercolour drawing, by John Christmas, about 1638 – 39, Britain. Museum no. E.574-2005. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
portrait miniature
Anne of Cleves portrait miniature set in an ivory box, watercolour, Hans Holbein, 1539, England. Museum no. P.153:1, 2-1910. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Watercolour of Nonsuch Palace. Two turrets at the front and a tower in the centre. It is surrounded by trees and green space
Nonsuch Palace from the South, watercolour, by Joris Hoefnagel, 1568, England. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
painting
Apollo and Daphne, drawing, by Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, about 1630 – 64, Italy. Museum no. DYCE.346. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Man leaning against a tree wearing a white ruff, white tights and a grey, dark brown and white patterned overshirt
Young Man among Roses, portrait miniature, by Nicholas Hilliard, about 1587, England. Museum no. P.163-1910. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
painting
Portrait of an unknown man, watercolour painting, by Isaac Oliver, about 1595, England. Museum no. IS.60-1978. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
watercolour
Watercolour, by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, about 1575, England. Museum no. AM.3267W-1856. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
drawing
Details of a decorative scheme for the eastern vault of the Madonna della Steccata, watercolour sketch, by Parmigianino, about 1531 – 39, Parma, Italy. Museum no. 4898. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
drawing
A Huntsman Resting with His Hounds, watercolour drawing, by Jacob Jordaens, about 1635, Southern Netherlands. Museum no. 4905. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
watercolour
Citron, watercolour, by Vincenzo Leonardi, about 1640, Rome, Italy. Museum no. E.426-2009. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
painting
Portrait of a European, watercolour painting, about 1610 – 20, India. Museum no. IM.9-1913. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Design drawing of arms, armour, horses' trappings and more, in gold, blue and white. Decorative and grand
Design for arms, armour, horses' trappings etc, for a pageant or triumph, watercolour drawing, by Jacopo Ligozzi, late 16th century, Italy. Museum no. 4785. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Watercolour of four yellow daffodils and a black and orange butterfly
Daffodils and a Red Admiral Butterfly, watercolour, by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, about 1575, England. Museum no. AM.3267A-1856. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London
armour design
Armour for Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, from The Almain Armourer's Album, watercolour armour design by Jacob Halder, 1557 – 87, Greenwich, London. Museum no. D.588&A-1894. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

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Renaissance Watercolours: From Durer to Van Dyck

Renaissance Watercolours: From Durer to Van Dyck

Spanning the period 1450 – 1640, this book brings together a diverse collection of portraits, botanical illustrations and landscape paintings for the first time.

£30 Buy
V&A green sketchbook souvenir

V&A green sketchbook souvenir

Next time you visit the V&A, why not bring this handy A4 notebook?

£3.50 Buy
British Watercolours: 1750–1950

British Watercolours: 1750–1950

The V&A holds the UK's national collection of watercolours, and this book showcases its breadth and diversity.

£25 Buy
Renaissance Watercolours
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Background image: Background image: Daffodils and a Red Admiral Butterfly, watercolour, Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, about 1575, England. Museum no. AM.3267A-1856. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London