This simple painting shows the north-facing wall of St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Warbleton in the year 1890. There is limited environmental detail, bringing the viewer’s focus to the architectural details of the doors, windows and buttresses embedded within the wall.
Although signed, there is no date on the front of the painting. A pencilled note on the reverse side of the paper indicates the date 30 August 1890.
In his catalogue, George notes that Warbleton Church is:
…a very interesting building for the Ecclesiologist and Architect to study. It consists of chancel, nave, North aisle, and West tower. The outer walls present traces of various styles, and on the South side is a rounded arch, which probably covers a tomb, an object of rare occurrence.
Identification
The painting has currently been identified as the second of five paintings from George’s catalogue. It was painted before publication of the catalogue, and it’s aspect matches the south-east aspect noted in the catalogue. However, the size of this painting is 11″ x 9″, while the catalogue provides a size of 19½” x 13″.
Without further evidence to the contrary, it has been assumed that the size shown in the catalogue is erroneous. However, it is possible that further information may come to light in future that will prove this identification to be incorrect.
Additional Details
| ID | SC-287-02 |
| Signed | “G. de Paris” |
| Dated | 1890 (dated verso) |
| Size | 11″ x 9″ |
| Aspect | South-east |
| Subject | St Mary the Virgin’s Church, Warbleton, East Sussex, England |
| Condition | Light foxing, friction marks to left side, colours vibrant. |
| Verso | Pencilled “27 / North side of Warbleton Church – Sussex / August 30th 1890″. Previously mounted with glue. |
| Custodian | Michael de Paris |
| Provenance | Purchased at auction from Gorringes, Lewes in 2016, from the collection of the late Michael W. D. Norman of Shoreham-by-Sea. |