Fitzwilliam Museum shows off its wonderful watercolours

Emma Crichton-Brown | Apollo | 10th July 2016

Watercolour paintings go a long way back. But when small colour cakes were developed in 1781 the medium was released from the confines of the studio. The British in particular formed an affection for watercolour that is reflected in the distinguished collection of Cambridge’s Fitzwilliam Museum. Although now somewhat less popular, the medium offers great precision as well as “scope for imaginary evocation and poetic allusion”.