Who painted Interior of SS Peter and Paul, Little Saling, Essex?

Interior of SS Peter and Paul, Little Saling, Essex was painted by Kenneth Rowntree in 1940.

Where can I see Interior of SS Peter and Paul, Little Saling, Essex?

Interior of SS Peter and Paul, Little Saling, Essex is held by Victoria and Albert Museum.

What movement is Interior of SS Peter and Paul, Little Saling, Essex?

Interior of SS Peter and Paul, Little Saling, Essex is associated with Social Realism.

Artwork

Interior of SS Peter and Paul, Little Saling, Essex

Kenneth Rowntree , 1940

Interior of SS Peter and Paul, Little Saling, Essex is a watercolor work on paper by the Social Realist artist Kenneth Rowntree. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.

About this work

This project, called “Recording Britain,” hired many artists to paint factories, villages, and churches.

Kenneth Rowntree painted the inside of a church in Essex in 1940. He used watercolour for this quiet scene. The work was part of a big effort to record Britain during World War II.

The government wanted artists to capture life before more towns were damaged. This project, called “Recording Britain,” hired many artists to paint factories, villages, and churches.

Look up more works by Rowntree, Kenneth.

Overview

Interior of SS Peter and Paul, Little Saling, Essex is a watercolour painting created in 1940 by Kenneth Rowntree as part of the Recording Britain project. The work captures the serene interior of a 14th-century church in Essex.

Subject & Meaning

The painting documents the historic church's interior, reflecting the project's aim to preserve visual records of Britain's cultural heritage amidst wartime threats. The subject's selection underscores the importance of religious and architectural landmarks.

Technique & Style

Rowntree executed the piece in watercolour, characterised by fresh, vibrant colours and expressive brushwork, hallmarks of his skill in the medium. The style conveys a sense of tranquility, fitting for the subject.

History & Provenance

Commissioned by the Recording Britain project (1939-1945), an initiative responding to the risk of WWII destruction, the painting is part of a broader national record. Rowntree, then residing in Essex, contributed multiple local church views to the project.

Context

Created during WWII, the work is set against the backdrop of Britain's wartime efforts and the threat of bomb damage to its cultural and physical landscape. The project aimed to capture the changing face of Britain under these conditions.

Legacy

As part of the Recording Britain collection, the painting contributes to a significant archival record of Britain's wartime era, preserving both the artist's voice and a moment in national history.

Artist & collection

Artist

Kenneth Rowntree

Kenneth Rowntree painted quiet British places in watercolour around 1940, from barn-stacked Essex fields to the carved oak pews of Caernarvonshire chapels.