Welcome to the Watercolour World

The Watercolour World

We are a UK-based charity working with public and private collections from around the world to create a free online database of documentary watercolours painted before 1900. Watercolours are extraordinary records of our shared past. It is our hope and belief that this project will encourage those lucky enough to hold watercolours to make them available online, unconditionally, to everyone.

Some of our favourite paintings

State Hermitage, St. Petersburg, Russia

Mid-19th century

Tepic, Nayarit, Mexico

12 Aug 1850

Maipú, Chile

11 Jan 1851

Tibet

1895

Tasman Sea

1840

Suriname

c.1701-1705

Glacier de la Côte, Mont Blanc, France

c.1800

Hyde Park, London, England

1851

South Asia

1795-1804

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Themes and Albums

Funfairs

Man-powered Ferris wheels and the icy origins of the roller coaster

Mount Vesuvius

Whenever the volcano erupted, artists would flock to it instead of running for cover