Museum of Island History

20 March 2010 – 30 August 2011

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The Rowlandson collection of watercolours depicts the Isle of Wight during
the 1790s.



Cowes Harbour, Thomas Rowlandson IWCMS:2002.160

In June 2002 the Isle of Wight Council, with the support of the Heritage
Lottery Fund and The Art Fund, purchased 112 watercolour sketches
by Thomas Rowlandson, Samuel Howitt and others.


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Shalfleet, Circle of Thomas Rowlandson IWCMS:2002.83


This remarkable collection came from Longleat House in Wiltshire, seat
of the Marquesses of Bath. It was rediscovered in the library in two
bound volumes during efforts to identify items to be sold to help maintain
Longleat’s many other treasures.


Captain Urry’s House at Yarmouth, Samuel Howitt (detail)
IWCMS:2002.83

This exhibition showed some of the illustrations of various locations
around the Island painted on these tours. The tours took place in
1791 and the later 1790s.


Near Godshill, Thomas Rowlandson IWCMS:2002.83
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The objects from the Heritage Service collections seen in the accompanying
cases were a selection inspired by some of the subjects seen in the paintings
such as animals, boats and public houses.




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