Artwork
Monument and the Bolingbroke pews, St.Mary’s Church, Lydiard Tregoze
Monument and the Bolingbroke pews, St.Mary’s Church, Lydiard Tregoze is a watercolor work on paper by Lines. It dates from 1942 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum. The watercolour, executed in 1942, records the interior of St.
About this work
Overview
The watercolour, executed in 1942, records the interior of St. Mary’s Church at Lydiard Tregoze, focusing on the monument and the Bolingbroke pews. Rendered in a calm palette, the image captures the stone walls, an arched window, and the detailed wooden furnishings, conveying a quiet, reverent atmosphere.
Subject & Meaning
At the centre of the composition lies a richly carved wooden pew, topped with a small figurative statue, while a prominent stone monument with an inscription dominates the space above, flanked by two lesser statues. The work highlights the layered memorial function of the church, juxtaposing personal commemoration with communal worship.
Technique & Style
Lines employs the translucency of watercolour to soften architectural edges and emphasize subtle tonal variations. Fine brushwork renders the intricate carving of the pew and the texture of the stone, while washes suggest the diffused light entering through the tall window, creating depth without harsh contrast.
History & Provenance
The piece was commissioned by the Committee for the Employment of Artists in Wartime, under the Pilgrim Trust’s funding, as part of the Recording Britain initiative. Initiated by Sir Kenneth Clark, the project aimed to document Britain’s built heritage during World War II; this work is among the over 1,500 pieces produced by 97 artists.
Context
Created amid wartime concerns for cultural loss, the painting serves as a visual archive of a specific ecclesiastical interior that might otherwise have been altered or damaged. Recording Britain gathered topographical and architectural subjects across the country, preserving a snapshot of the nation’s historic environment during a period of rapid change.
Artist & collection
St. Nicholas Church, Denston
Interior of an old church
Interior of the Church of St. Mary, Whitby
Interior of the Church of St. Denis, Faxton
Interior of St. Mary's Church, Tilty
Interior, Black Chapel, North End, near Dunmow, Essex
Watercolour drawing by the Grieve family, probably by Thomas Grieve, showing St John's Church, Margate
Timber work of Roof, St. Peter-the-Less, Chichester
Chancel of Trinity Chapel, New York
St. Peter's Church, Theberton
Interior of St. Peter's Church, Gayhurst
Pews in St Mary's Church, Whitby