Thomas Matthew Rooke R.W.S

Signed and dated 1916 l.r., watercolour over traces of pencil with scratching out

76 x 49 cm

The artist worked as a designer for Morris & Co. under Burne Jones who admired his work. From 1878-1893 he worked for Ruskin, drawing continental buildings, and until around 1908 he continued doing this for other patrons. The founding of the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings by William Morris and other members of the Pre-Raphaelite brotherhood in 1877 put Rooke’s talent to good use as his attention to architectural detail is always meticulous. Rooke also drew many British buildings.

This watercolour shows the wooden pews in use in the Abbey at this time and also the light fittings.

There are examples of Rooke’s work in many British public collections, notably the British Museum, Fitzwilliam Museum, Cambridge and the City Art Gallery, Manchester.