Artwork
View of the Oude Kerk at Ede in Gelderland

View of the Oude Kerk at Ede in Gelderland is a watercolor work on paper by the Rococo painting artist Wybrand Hendricks. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Wybrand Hendricks’ 1770 watercolour presents the façade of the Oude Kerk in the town of Ede, situated in the Dutch province of Gelderland. Rendered in a modest, pastoral setting, the composition places the stone church at the centre of a quiet village scene, surrounded by modest dwellings, a thatched barn, and a scattering of figures engaged in everyday activity.
Subject & Meaning
The work captures a moment of ordinary rural life, emphasizing the relationship between the communal church and its surrounding settlement. By depicting townspeople strolling, resting, and working near the church’s perimeter, the image underscores the building’s role as a focal point of social and spiritual gathering within an agrarian landscape.
Technique & Style
Executed in transparent watercolour, Hendricks employs delicate washes to merge sky and architecture, producing a soft, atmospheric effect. The subtle blending of tones renders the steep roof, pointed tower, and surrounding structures with a gentle, almost dreamlike quality, while the restrained palette highlights the modest elegance of the village setting.
History & Provenance
The watercolour entered the museum’s holdings after being acquired in 1882 from the collector Robert Edwyn Lyne for the sum of seven pounds. Its inclusion in the collection reflects 19th‑century interest in documenting Dutch regional architecture and everyday scenes through the medium of watercolour.
Artist & collection
Artist
Wybrand Hendriks was a Dutch painter, primarily known for his portraits, and the concierge of the Teylers Museum.











