Pre Raphaelite Drawings and Watercolours

The exhibition catalogue focuses on the Ashmolean’s rarely seen reserve collection of Pre-Raphaelite drawings and watercolours, with Oxford playing a pivotal role in the movement’s early history. It traces how Thomas Combe’s support helped Millais and Holman Hunt, how William Morris and Edward Burne-Jones were inspired by the Combe collection, and how key figures such as Dante Gabriel Rossetti, John Ruskin and Jane Burden connected Oxford to the broader Pre-Raphaelite story. The book highlights a rich mix of intimate portraits, nature studies and collaborative design projects, including stained glass and furniture designs, as well as preparatory drawings for famous paintings. It also celebrates Bequests and acquisitions that have expanded the collection, such as Burne-Jones’s illustrated letters and paintbrushes. Beyond a catalogue, the volume showcases the breadth of Pre-Raphaelite drawing techniques and media.

This publication offers more than a static inventory. It presents the range of media—from pencil and ink to chalk, watercolour, bodycolour and metallic paints—and demonstrates how artists translated Ruskin’s advice to “go to nature” into diverse works. It includes large, elaborate chalk drawings, as well as early sketches, and emphasizes the group’s distinctive approach to drafts and finished works. The book also situates the drawings within the museum’s broader collection and illustrates the personal connections and stories behind some of the most celebrated Pre-Raphaelite pieces.

• Focus on Ashmolean reserve collection
• Highlights watercolours and drawings
• Various media: pencil, ink, chalk, paint
• Includes stained glass and furniture designs
• Preparatory drawings for famous paintings
• Portraits and landscapes reflect artistic ties

Features

• Focus on Ashmolean reserve collection
• Rich in Pre-Raphaelite drawings and watercolours
• Varied media: pencil, ink, chalk, watercolour
• Includes designs for stained glass and furniture
• Preparatory drawings for well-known paintings
• Portraits and landscapes illuminate artists’ friendships