“Turk’s Boatyard Cookham,” created circa 1931 by Stanley Spencer, is an oil on canvas artwork that falls under the Neo-Romanticism movement. Measuring 63.5 by 76.5 cm, this cityscape is housed at the Tate Modern in London, UK.
The artwork portrays a detailed scene of a boatyard beside a calm river. The composition predominantly features several wooden boats meticulously aligned on a cracked concrete floor, leading the viewer’s gaze towards a river and a quaint bridge in the background. On the right of the scene, a portion of a white wooden structure with a window frames the edge of the piece. The rich, earthy tones of the boats and the surrounding greenery contribute to the serene yet industrious atmosphere of the boatyard. Spencer’s precision in depicting texture and light reflects his mastery in capturing everyday life with a sense of romantic idealism.
