Artwork
St. Margaret's, Westminster, and the abbey with old buildings in the foreground
St. Margaret's, Westminster, and the abbey with old buildings in the foreground is a watercolor work on paper by the British Romanticist artist Gendall. It dates from 1810 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
This 1810 watercolour by Gendall depicts St. Margaret's Church and Westminster Abbey, set amidst older foreground buildings.
Subject & Meaning
The painting contrasts everyday life, represented by worn brick houses and a horse-drawn cart, with grand ecclesiastical architecture, highlighting the relationship between the mundane and the monumental.
Technique & Style
Executed in muted greys and browns, the work features soft colours, with the church standing out as a brighter focal point, showcasing the artist's use of colour to guide the viewer's attention.
History & Provenance
The composition bears a strong resemblance to a drawing by David Cox, suggesting that Gendall's work may be derived from a Cox original, potentially indicating a connection between the two artists.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist painted Westminster’s skyline in watercolour around the 1810s–60s, catching the abbey and old buildings before modern changes.
Old Houses at Abingdon, Berkshire
Wrexham, Denbighshire
Norman tower at Bury St. Edmunds
The Market Cross and Abbey Church, Malmesbury
View of Bury St. Edmunds
Market Place, Hull
A street in Bristol with the tower of the Church of St. Mary Redcliffe
All Souls' College, Oxford
St. Mary's, Oxford
Church Street, (west side) Windsor