Chapel of St. Helena, Crypt of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

Dominant colour

Chapel of St. Helena, Crypt of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem is a watercolor by David RA Roberts, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: David RA Roberts
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a dimly lit stone chapel with a few people inside. At the front, a tall cross sits on a pedestal under an arch, with light glowing from below. Some folks kneel or stand near the steps, while others lean against the wall. The walls are rough and worn, with small paintings hanging on the sides. The artist focused on the play of light and shadow, making the chapel feel both sacred and real. The rough textures of the stone and clothing add to the sense of age and history. Look up Roberts, David RA to see how he used light in other works.

The story of this work

Overview

The image depicts the Chapel of St. Helena within the Crypt of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, based on the central section of a lithograph by Louis Haghe from Roberts' 1842–49 publication *The Holy Land*. The rendering shows a generally imprecise execution compared to the original print.

Read the full account in the museum source.