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Past Display Ran from 2 December 2020 to 8 August 2021

Renaissance Watercolours

This display is now closed at V&A South Kensington

See all current & future exhibitions at V&A South Kensington

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.

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a drawing of Canterbury cathedral front design — 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 depicting Anne of Cleeves — Anne of Cleves, portrait miniature set in an ivory box, by 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

Apollo and Daphne; Cupid, above them, poising an arrow; Drawn with the brush, charged with bistre, tinted. — 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 of a man with long brown hair, in a painted frame of gold, with blue and white detailing — Portrait of an unknown man, watercolour painting, by Isaac Oliver, about 1595, England. Museum no. IS.60-1978. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

watercolour of whole and sliced lemons — Watercolour, by Jacques Le Moyne de Morgues, about 1575, England. Museum no. AM.3267W-1856. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

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

Watercolour of a man wearing a red coat and a hat, along with his five dogs — A Huntsman Resting with His Hounds, watercolour drawing, by Jacob Jordaens, about 1635, Southern Netherlands. Museum no. 4905. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

watercolour of a yellow lemon. It is bumpy in texture — 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, France. Museum no. AM.3267A-1856. © Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Design for armour in red and gold. Left shows the armour worn, right shows the armour deconstructed — 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

From Paris to Pisa: Europe 1250-1350 photo

From Paris to Pisa: Europe 1250-1350

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