Discover the limitless potential of watercolor with this beautifully illustrated, expertly written guide. Michael Clarke, an acknowledged authority on the subject, traces the historical and stylistic development of watercolor art from earliest times to the present day. See the precise detail of medieval illuminated manuscripts, pages form the watercolor sketchbooks of great artists, and watercolor illustrations from classic children's literature. Learn how ancient Egyptian tomb paintings were produced, why Turner took his watercolor paint box on vacation, how watercolor was used in the designs of William Morris, and how Picasso found new ways or working in watercolor. Discover how female assistants colorwashed the work of 18th-century caricaturists, how watercolor is used today in architecture and fashion design, why Nicholas Hilliard used a mussel shell as a palette, the courtly art of Indian watercolorists, and much, much more.