Philipson’s early work predominantly focused on landscapes, still lifes and interiors. Then, late in the 1950s, the artist began to explore two further themes in his work: cathedral exteriors and the rose window. Philipson commented on his paintings of Venetian church interiors: “What impressed me most about the Venetian churches – San Marco above all – was a sense of their beautifully lit spaces. They gave me a great desire to recreate all their visual aspects simultaneously, taking in their inspired intricate rhythms and richly saturated colour.”