WorkIn
St Mark's Rest (1877-84), Ruskin describes the area of mosaic that Rooke has depicted in this study: 'In the Centre is Christ, surrounded by the prophets and patriarchs of the Old Testament, each of whom unfolds a scroll and displays on it a portion of his own prophecy.' (
Works, 24, p. 326).
Ruskin commissioned Rooke to produce accurate copies of the mosaics so that a record would exist in the event of their destruction. This work was done, in Ruskin's words, for 'love and journeyman's wages' (
Works, 24, p. 334), and lasted between early May and early December of 1879.
Rooke complained that work was interrupted frequently by festivals and Saints' days (
Works, 30, p. lvii). Ruskin replied jovially, 'Never mind interruptions', 'They refresh and clarify one's sense [...] Take them as holidays ordered by the Saints, and enjoy them all you can'.
Unfortunately, many of Rooke's drawings of the mosaics were destroyed by a fire in the St Gothard Tunnel. On his return, he did his best to reconstruct them from surviving tracings.
ArtistT.M. Rooke (1842-1942) created many watercolour drawings for the Guild of St George. He first worked in an army agent's office before attending evening classes in art and became a student at the Royal Academy in 1868. The following year he was employed by William Morris's firm and became an assistant and close friend of Edward Burne-Jones.
Rooke enjoyed success as an artist in his own right.