LORD OF THE PAINT
It’s known as the UK’s Sistine Chapel and was recently unveiled earlier this year after two years of painstaking conservation work. It is, of course, The Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College, Greenwich, breath-taking in both its scale and beauty.
This England spoke to Head of Conservation, William Palin (son of Michael Palin), who shared with us how it has been brought back to its former glory. First the surface was cleaned with purified water and cotton buds to remove dirt, then solvents were used to mend cracks in the varnish that otherwise form a cloudy layer over the paint work. Where there was paint loss, this was skilfully restored while every flake of original paint that could be rescued was reattached. “It’s gentle work,” William told us, “and slow.”
William also revealed that the original artist James Thornhill negotiated the decent sum of £3 per square foot for the ceiling and £1 per square foot for the walls when he started the hall in 1707. “He was trying to raise English history painting to the level of European history painting – it was as if he were saying, ‘You’re paying all these Italian artists this much, why won’t you pay me the same’!” It was just as well he pushed for more money as the commission took him a staggering 19 years to complete. Given this was Thornhill’s first major public work, it is a testament to his spirit and confidence that he made such demands. Though largely forgotten today, he was knighted in 1720 and went on to paint the interior of the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral. Perhaps the reopening of the Painted Hall is the beginning of Thornhill’s revival? Here’s hoping!