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Greenwich grime: Royal Naval College crowdfunds for 'UK Sistine Chapel' Greenwich grime: Royal Naval College crowdfunds for 'UK Sistine Chapel'
(12 days later)
Related: Greenwich's Painted Hall shipshape after restoration
The public are being invited to help clean decades of grime, tobacco and candle smoke from the great arch in the Painted Hall at Greenwich, by contributing to a crowdfunding appeal to restore its original shimmering splendour. The arch is one of the most spectacular features of the grandest and most famous room at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the early 18th century as the Royal Hospital for Seamen.The public are being invited to help clean decades of grime, tobacco and candle smoke from the great arch in the Painted Hall at Greenwich, by contributing to a crowdfunding appeal to restore its original shimmering splendour. The arch is one of the most spectacular features of the grandest and most famous room at the Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich, designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the early 18th century as the Royal Hospital for Seamen.
Enormous paintings by Sir James Thornhill, who spent almost 20 years on the job and almost as long trying to get paid in full for it, cover the walls floor to ceiling. His colourful scenes include George I perched awkwardly on some fluffy clouds, surrounded by figures representing Peace, Time, Truth, Victory, America and Africa, arriving to launch the Hanoverian dynasty of royals.Enormous paintings by Sir James Thornhill, who spent almost 20 years on the job and almost as long trying to get paid in full for it, cover the walls floor to ceiling. His colourful scenes include George I perched awkwardly on some fluffy clouds, surrounded by figures representing Peace, Time, Truth, Victory, America and Africa, arriving to launch the Hanoverian dynasty of royals.
Such is the impact of the 4,200 sq m of decoration, the Painted Hall has been dubbed the UK’s Sistine Chapel. But it was – and remains – so overwhelming that, according to legend, elderly sailors pleaded to be allowed to eat their dinners somewhere less grand. Nelson’s body lay in state in the hall after his death at Trafalgar in 1805, before the sailors moved out later in the century, and it became the Royal Naval College.Such is the impact of the 4,200 sq m of decoration, the Painted Hall has been dubbed the UK’s Sistine Chapel. But it was – and remains – so overwhelming that, according to legend, elderly sailors pleaded to be allowed to eat their dinners somewhere less grand. Nelson’s body lay in state in the hall after his death at Trafalgar in 1805, before the sailors moved out later in the century, and it became the Royal Naval College.
Restoration work has been in progress in the enormous room for years, in a Heritage Lottery-backed project, but the Art Fund is now inviting the public to contribute £21,500 to clean the great arch and regild its elaborate mouldings in real gold leaf.Restoration work has been in progress in the enormous room for years, in a Heritage Lottery-backed project, but the Art Fund is now inviting the public to contribute £21,500 to clean the great arch and regild its elaborate mouldings in real gold leaf.
Donations can be made through the charity’s Art Happens website, which has already helped museums and historic buildings across Britain raise funds for special projects. Rewards on offer to donors range from sets of postcards to workshops on the art of gilding, and for the most lavish contributions of £995 or more, a chance to arrive at Greenwich by boat and climb the scaffolding to inspect at point-blank range the paintings that put the sailors off their dinners.Donations can be made through the charity’s Art Happens website, which has already helped museums and historic buildings across Britain raise funds for special projects. Rewards on offer to donors range from sets of postcards to workshops on the art of gilding, and for the most lavish contributions of £995 or more, a chance to arrive at Greenwich by boat and climb the scaffolding to inspect at point-blank range the paintings that put the sailors off their dinners.