b.1842 in London; d.1942 in London. Painter, draughtsman and studio assistant to Edward Burne Jones.

Thomas Matthews Rooke is best known for being a long standing studio assistant to the Pre-Raphaelite associate, Edward Burne Jones (1833-1898). Rooke worked as Burne Jones’ assistant for nearly thirty years until his master’s death. Rooke attended the Royal College of Art and the Royal Academy Schools before applying to work for the arts and crafts design firm Morris and Co. in 1869.

A skilled painter and draughtsman in his own right, Rooke is probably best known for his Biblical narrative paintings and his extensive catalogue of architectural studies in watercolour. In 1878 and under the recommendation of Burne Jones, John Ruskin asked Rooke to produce watercolours depicting religious buildings of architectural importance and that had been identified as under threat of demolition or decay. Rooke spent many summers travelling Britain and continental Europe completing this series of documentary watercolours (the series now resides in the collection of the Ruskin Museum, Sheffield). Of his religious paintings, ‘The Story of Ruth’ (1876-7), a Biblical narrative work comprising of three oil paintings, is held in the Tate collection. The Southwark Art Collection holds a similar multi-panelled biblical themed work entitled Jeptha’s Vow (GA0639), a series of five oil paintings housed in a gilt architectural support frame.

(Benjamin Angwin - August 2014)