Titles

Only one title has been suggested:

• 'St John's, Westminster' (1908, Pennell). 1
• 'St John's, Westminster' (1980, YMSM). 2

Description

Unknown.

Site

St John's, Smith Square, was built in 1714-28 by Thomas Archer (1668–1743), but was gutted in 1941 during the second World War, and has since been rebuilt as a concert hall.

The four towers, at each corner of the original church, inspired Charles Dickens (1812-1870), in Our Mutual Friend, to describe it as like 'some petrified monster, frightful and gigantic, on its back with its legs in the air.'

Sir Hugh Casson, writing in 1981, was more flattering:

'The plan is squarish and almost symmetrical, but like all Baroque churches the interlocking pattern of the internal spaces is ambiguous, so that you can "see" and comprehend the church centrally or longitudinally as you prefer. The outside is such a turmoil of movement that you could almost say there are no walls or windows ... only a composition of classical elements, columns and cornices, moulded pediments and heavily modelled towers ... Archer handles all this with an energy, courage and confidence which is irresistible. Admittedly, it looks a bit too large for the space it occupies - rather like some great piece of machinery that has been parked in this tiny domestic little square of brick-faced houses and white sash-windows. But this architectural outsize swagger is part of its fascination. It positively challenges you to take it on full-face (and on all four faces).' 3

In 1896 Whistler drew two lithographs of London churches, St Anne's, Soho c162 and St Giles-in-the-Fields c167, and the subject of this oil reflects a similar interest in religious sites, following the death of his wife.

Joseph Pennell (1860-1926) made an etching of St John's, Westminster, which Wuerth dates 1895. 4