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Roslin Chapel, near Edinburgh, showing the 'Prentice Pillar'

George Shepherd

1809

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

British Romanticism Romanticism Early 19th Century Architectural

Dominant colour

Roslin Chapel, near Edinburgh, showing the 'Prentice Pillar' is a 1809 watercolor by George Shepherd, a British Romanticism work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: George Shepherd
When & what style?: 1809 · British Romanticism
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting shows a long, stone hallway with tall columns and pointed arches. The walls and ceilings are covered in detailed carvings and patterns. Stained-glass windows let in dim light, and the floor looks uneven, with shadows stretching along the walls. The centerpiece is a twisted column called the "Prentice Pillar," which stands out because it’s wrapped around itself like a spiral. The artist used soft colors and shading to make the space feel old and mysterious. Look up the Victoria and Albert Museum to see more works like this one.

The story of this work

Overview

The interior of Roslin Chapel is depicted, focusing on the so-called 'Prentice Pillar,' which is signed and dated. The pillar features four strips of foliage spiraling upward from a base of entwined serpents, a design traditionally attributed to an apprentice whose master, upon returning, allegedly murdered him in punishment. The chapel itself, founded in 1446, is for its intricate sculpture and decorative carving. Shepherd’s composition is based on a meticulously measured drawing by architect J.M. Gandy, who exhibited similar views of the chapel in 1807 and 1809.

Read the full account in the museum source.

About the artist

Artist

George Shepherd

George Shepherd’s watercolours document 18th-century Britain in crisp detail. They show Aylesbury’s spires, the lost Peterborough House on the Thames, the twisting stone of Roslin Chapel, and quiet corners of Rye and…

See the richer artist page