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Interior of the Church of St. Mary, Whitby

Horace Rooke

1940

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

British Romanticism Early Modern Interior Church Interior

Dominant colour

Interior of the Church of St. Mary, Whitby is a 1940 watercolor by Horace Rooke, a British Romanticism work, depicting Church Interior, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Horace Rooke
When & what style?: 1940 · British Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This watercolor shows a quiet church interior with wooden pews and a small pulpit. The walls are plain, with a few framed pictures hanging. Light comes through tall windows, and the floor looks worn. The artist focused on simple shapes and soft colors, making the space feel calm. The signature in the corner reads "Rooke," which matches the artist’s name. Next, check out the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more of this painting.

The story of this work

Overview

A watercolour by Horace Rooke from 1940, this work was created as part of the Recording Britain project, which employed artists to document the British landscape and built environment during the Second World War. The painting depicts the interior of the Church of St. Mary in Whitby, reflecting the project’s focus on capturing places of national and cultural significance. It was produced under a scheme initiated by Sir Kenneth Clark, director of the National Gallery, to record sites threatened by wartime damage or rapid change. The collection ultimately included over 1,500 works by 97 artists,…

Read the full account in the museum source.