Artwork
View across the fields of the old and new Lighthouses and signal station, Flamborough
View across the fields of the old and new Lighthouses and signal station, Flamborough is a watercolor work on paper by Rowntree. It dates from 1940 and is held in the collection of the Victoria and Albert Museum.
About this work
Overview
Rowntree’s 1940 watercolour captures a tranquil stretch of countryside at Flamborough, where a fallen wooden gate lies in the foreground and a ploughed field recedes toward a small group of structures, including a tall white lighthouse and a signal station. The pale sky, soft clouds and scattered wildflowers give the scene a gentle, unhurried atmosphere, while the empty landscape suggests a moment of stillness amid the coast’s functional architecture.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes ordinary rural elements—a gate, cultivated land, and blooming flora—with the prominent maritime landmarks of the old and new lighthouses and their accompanying signal station. This contrast highlights the coexistence of agricultural life and navigational infrastructure, subtly commenting on the region’s dual identity as both a working landscape and a point of coastal safety.
Technique & Style
Executed in transparent watercolour, the work employs delicate washes to render the sky’s pale blue and the subtle gradations of cloud.
Executed in transparent watercolour, the work employs delicate washes to render the sky’s pale blue and the subtle gradations of cloud. Fine brushwork defines the gate and field furrows, while broader strokes suggest the distant buildings, allowing the viewer’s eye to travel from the immediate foreground to the horizon. The palette remains restrained, emphasizing natural light and the muted tones of the English countryside.
History & Provenance
The painting was produced under the Recording Britain scheme, a wartime initiative that enlisted artists to document vulnerable aspects of the nation’s visual heritage. Commissioned by the Committee for the Employment of Artists in Wartime and financially supported by the Pilgrim Trust, the work forms part of a larger corpus of over 1,500 pieces created by 97 artists at the direction of Sir Kenneth Clark.
Context
Created during the Second World War, the piece reflects the project’s aim to preserve scenes considered at risk from bombings or rapid modernization. Flamborough’s lighthouses, essential for maritime navigation, were particularly significant as wartime beacons, while the surrounding fields represented the agricultural backbone sustaining the home front.
Artist & collection
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