Artwork
The Archbishop's Palace at Lambeth
The Archbishop's Palace at Lambeth is a watercolor work on paper by the Romanticist artist Jonathan Skelton. It dates from 1755 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
The scene looks quiet, with no people around, and the colors are soft—mostly browns, greens, and pale blues.
This watercolor shows a large, old brick building with tall towers and arched doorways. In front is a courtyard with a small pond reflecting the structure, and a big tree stands near the center. The scene looks quiet, with no people around, and the colors are soft—mostly browns, greens, and pale blues.
The artist captured the building’s worn details, like the crumbling walls and mossy roof. This was painted in 1755 by someone who liked showing history in their work.
Want to see more? Check out the Victoria and Albert Museum for their collection.
Overview
The Archbishop's Palace at Lambeth is a watercolour painting created by Jonathan Skelton in 1755, featuring the historic palace set amidst natural surroundings.
Subject & Meaning
The subject is the Archbishop's Palace at Lambeth, depicted in a serene, uninhabited setting. The emphasis on architectural detail and natural decay suggests an interest in capturing the passage of time and historical presence.
Technique & Style
Skelton's technique reflects mid-18th-century British watercolour practices, with delicate, detailed rendering of architecture and foliage. The composition, framing the palace with dense foreground elements, indicates an influence from landscape artists like George Lambert.
History & Provenance
Signed and dated 1755, the work is part of Skelton's series of London views produced before his 1757 departure for Italy. The current location is not specified in the provided information, though a similar collection can be found at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Context
Painted in 1755, the work captures a moment in the palace's history, highlighting its state of gentle decay. The absence of human figures adds to the sense of a historical snapshot, focusing attention on the structure and its environment.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jonathan Skelton carried a pocket-sized sketchbook like a diary—every page a quiet walk through London’s edges, where graveyards and old palaces kept their secrets.
Borwick Hall, Lancashire
An Old Manor House
Peterborough House, Millbank, Westminster
Birdcage Walk, London
Untitled
Old Public House, Bayswater
Hampton Court Palace
Castellated mansion in a park
Houses at Putney Heath
Hampton Court
Millpond near Shrewsbury
All Saints' Church and the Archbishop's Palace, Maidstone