William and Mary Presenting the Cap of Liberty to Europe (sketch for the painted ceiling of the Great Hall, Greenwich Hospital) thumbnail 1
William and Mary Presenting the Cap of Liberty to Europe (sketch for the painted ceiling of the Great Hall, Greenwich Hospital) thumbnail 2
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images
Image of Gallery in South Kensington
On display at V&A South Kensington
British Galleries, Room 54

This object consists of 2 parts, some of which may be located elsewhere.

William and Mary Presenting the Cap of Liberty to Europe (sketch for the painted ceiling of the Great Hall, Greenwich Hospital)

Oil Painting
ca. 1710 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
This is a preliminary study, in effect a design, for part of the decorative scheme in the Painted Hall at Greenwich Hospital, London, newly designed by Christopher Wren. This sketch is not highly finished, and the painting technique is relatively crude but very vigorous.

Subjects Depicted
The monarchs, William and Mary, are shown attended by the figures of Concord and the Cardinal Virtues. The King presents the personifications of Peace and Liberty to Europe and tramples on Tyranny and Arbitrary Power. The figure of Architecture holds a drawing of part of the Hospital (which was erected partly as a memorial to the Queen). Time rescues Truth; Wisdom and Virtue destroy the Vices; and Apollo and the Hours are seen in the Heavens. The Signs of the Zodiac, presided over by the Seasons, are grouped around the oval frame. The present ceiling, executed in 1708/9-1712 varies in some respects from this design.

People
Thornhill and his assistants worked intermittently on the Painted Hall at Greenwich Hospital for l9 years, completing two vast ceiling paintings and five murals that celebrate the Protestant succession of English monarchs from William and Mary (reigned 1689-1702) to George I (reigned 1714-1727).


Object details

Categories
Object type
Parts
This object consists of 2 parts.

  • Oil Paintings
  • Frame
TitleWilliam and Mary Presenting the Cap of Liberty to Europe (sketch for the painted ceiling of the Great Hall, Greenwich Hospital)
Materials and techniques
Oil on canvas
Brief description
Sir James Thornhill, painting, design for the Painted Hall, Greenwich - William and Mary Presenting the Cap of Liberty to Europe
Physical description
Design for the Painted Hall, Greenwich - William and Mary Presenting the Cap of Liberty to Europe
Dimensions
  • Unframed height: 96.5cm
  • Unframed width: 66cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 01/12/1998 by DW existing frame: 121 x 90 x 9cm Frame 812:1-1877: 1210 x 900 x 93 mm - measured by Zoe Allen, July 2013.
Style
Gallery label
British Galleries: Thornhill painted the walls and two vast ceilings in the Painted Hall at Greenwich Hospital, London, newly designed by Christopher Wren (1632-1723). In this preparatory oil sketch William and Mary present Peace and Liberty to Europe. Thornhill was the only English painter to compete successfully with foreigners for large-scale commissions.(27/03/2003)
Object history
Purchased, 1877
Commissioned by the Governors of The Royal Hospital for Seamen, Greenwich.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
This is a preliminary study, in effect a design, for part of the decorative scheme in the Painted Hall at Greenwich Hospital, London, newly designed by Christopher Wren. This sketch is not highly finished, and the painting technique is relatively crude but very vigorous.

Subjects Depicted
The monarchs, William and Mary, are shown attended by the figures of Concord and the Cardinal Virtues. The King presents the personifications of Peace and Liberty to Europe and tramples on Tyranny and Arbitrary Power. The figure of Architecture holds a drawing of part of the Hospital (which was erected partly as a memorial to the Queen). Time rescues Truth; Wisdom and Virtue destroy the Vices; and Apollo and the Hours are seen in the Heavens. The Signs of the Zodiac, presided over by the Seasons, are grouped around the oval frame. The present ceiling, executed in 1708/9-1712 varies in some respects from this design.

People
Thornhill and his assistants worked intermittently on the Painted Hall at Greenwich Hospital for l9 years, completing two vast ceiling paintings and five murals that celebrate the Protestant succession of English monarchs from William and Mary (reigned 1689-1702) to George I (reigned 1714-1727).
Bibliographic reference
pp. 116-7 Rubens and his legacy London : Royal Academy of Arts, 2014. ISBN: 9781907533778
Collection
Accession number
812-1877

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Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
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