The Painted Hall

One word to describe it? Wow. It’s in the Old Naval College and it’s ticketed otherwise it would be overwhelmed by too many visitors unwilling to leave. I’ve been to a couple of exhibitions, both by Luke Jerome and I’ve been mesmerised by the Hall.

It is a spectacular example of baroque architecture and decorative art. The hall was designed by Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor, two of the most influential architects of the late 17th and early 18th centuries.

The Painted Hall was created as a dining hall for the students of the Royal Naval Academy, which was housed at the site from the early 18th century until 1869. The hall was decorated with a series of large-scale paintings depicting scenes from British naval history and symbolic and mythological subjects.

What Do the Paintings Mean?

The central narrative focuses on a pivotal moment when the United Kingdom was created and became a dominant power in Europe.

The hall's ceiling is covered in a magnificent fresco painted by Sir James Thornhill between 1708 and 1727. The fresco depicts the Glorification of the Royal House of Stuart, considered one of the most outstanding decorative schemes of the baroque period in Britain.

Sir James Thornhill's epic painting draws on a cast of around 200 figures to tell an incredible story of political change, scientific and cultural achievements, naval endeavours and commercial enterprise, all set against a series of magnificent backdrops. The characters he included are a mix of symbolic, mythological, historical and contemporary.

The paintings celebrate Britain's political stability, commercial prosperity and naval power. It also depicts the Protestant accessions to the throne of King William III and Queen Mary II in 1688 and George I in 1714.

I went to see the Gaia Exhibition at the Painted Hall in 2021. I recently heard about the Moon Exhibition, which was a no-brainer to pop along.

The Moon Exhibition

Museum of the Moon is a touring artwork by UK artist Luke Jerram.

Measuring seven metres in diameter, the moon features 120 dpi detailed NASA imagery of the lunar surface. At an approximate scale of 1:500,000, each centimetre of the internally lit spherical sculpture represents 5km of the moon's surface.

Must See Attraction

The Painted Hall is open to visitors and is considered a must-see attraction in Greenwich. The hall is a popular spot for filming, photography and events; it's widely acknowledged as one of Europe's most critical baroque interiors and an iconic landmark of the United Kingdom.

Other Places Of Interest

It's worth noting that it's not only the painted hall that is a great attraction but also the Old Royal Naval College, where the Painted Hall is located, a landmark on its own.

The site is part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site, including the Royal Observatory, the Queen's House, and the Cutty Sark.

The Old Royal Naval College is also home to the Chapel of St Peter and St Paul, which is the final resting place of many naval heroes, including Admiral Horatio Nelson and Sir William Penn, the father of William Penn, the founder of the state of Pennsylvania.

Guided Tours

Visitors to the site can also take a guided tour of the Painted Hall and learn more about the history of the building and the meanings behind the paintings.

Additionally, the Chapel of St. Peter and St. Paul and the Visitor Centre is also open to the public, where you can learn about the history of the site and the buildings.

For more information, click on https://ornc.org/explore-whats-here/painted-hall/

Thank you for your attention as always.

Best wishes

Tabby London