Design for the ceiling of the Painted Hall, Greenwich Hospital (recto)
Sketch for a pediment (verso)
Maker
(artist)
1675-1734
1675-1734
Title
Design for the ceiling of the Painted Hall, Greenwich Hospital (recto)
Sketch for a pediment (verso)
Sketch for a pediment (verso)
Date of Production
(circa) 1707
Medium
graphite, pen and brown ink, brown wash (recto), graphite, pen and brown ink, and brown wash trials (verso) on laid paper
Dimensions
Height: 35.7 cm
Width: 22.6 cm
Width: 22.6 cm
Accession Number
D.1952.RW.2250
Mode of Acquisition
Robert Clermont Witt, bequest, 1952
Credit
The Courtauld, London (Samuel Courtauld Trust)
Copyright
Work in the public domain
Location
Not currently on display
Keywords
Label Text
James Thornhill made numerous studies in preparation for his ceiling of the Painted Hall at the Royal Hospital in Greenwich, set up in 1692 as a home for retired sailors of the Royal Navy. Arguably the grandest Baroque scheme by a British artist, this design celebrated the nation’s scientific and cultural achievements. At lower centre, the figure of Architecture holds a plan of the building. At the foot, Hercules (Strength) wields a club, and Pallas (Wisdom) destroys the vices.
Provenance
Mrs. Esdaile; acquired from her by B.T. Batsford (London); purchased there by Sir Robert Witt, London (1872-1952), before November 1926 (along with D.1952.RW.2223, 2225, 2227, 2228, 2230, 2231, 2233, 2237, 2243, 2245, 2246, 2248); Witt Bequest 1952
Exhibition History
Drawings Gallery Display - Pen to Brush: British Drawings and Watercolours, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 18/11/2021-28/02/2022
The Witt Collection - Four centuries of drawings, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/04/2004-20/06/2004
English Baroque sketches: the painter interior in the age of Thornhill, Marble Hill House, Twickenham, 01/05/1974-07/07/1974 ...More
Architectural Drawings from the Witt Collection, University of Nottingham, 01/05/1972-01/06/1972
Master Drawings from the Witt and Courtauld Collections, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, 17/11/1962-22/12/1962
Architectural Drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/07/1961-01/10/1961
An exhibition of paintings and drawings by Sir James Thornhill, Guildhall Art Gallery, London, 04/06/1958-10/07/1958
Drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1958-59
Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London; York City Art Gallery; Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953
Drawings by Old Masters, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1953
Old Masters from the Witt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 01/01/1943-01/05/1943
Desenul şi gravura englezá, secole le XVIII-XX. Expoziţie de desen, acuaretà, pastel şi gravurǎ subtoate formele / Ausstellung von Britischen Aquarellen Zeichnungen, Muzeul Roma Stelian, Bucharest; Prague; Vienna, 15/12/1935-02/03/1936
British Art Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 06/01/1934-10/03/1934
Meisterwerke englischer Malerei aus drei Jahrhunderten, Vienna, 1927
Burlington Fine Arts Club, London, 1926-27 ...Less
The Witt Collection - Four centuries of drawings, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 03/04/2004-20/06/2004
English Baroque sketches: the painter interior in the age of Thornhill, Marble Hill House, Twickenham, 01/05/1974-07/07/1974 ...More
Architectural Drawings from the Witt Collection, University of Nottingham, 01/05/1972-01/06/1972
Master Drawings from the Witt and Courtauld Collections, Whitworth Art Gallery, Manchester, 17/11/1962-22/12/1962
Architectural Drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 01/07/1961-01/10/1961
An exhibition of paintings and drawings by Sir James Thornhill, Guildhall Art Gallery, London, 04/06/1958-10/07/1958
Drawings from the Witt Collection, The Courtauld Gallery, London, 1958-59
Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London; York City Art Gallery; Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953
Drawings by Old Masters, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1953
Old Masters from the Witt Collection, Victoria and Albert Museum, London, 01/01/1943-01/05/1943
Desenul şi gravura englezá, secole le XVIII-XX. Expoziţie de desen, acuaretà, pastel şi gravurǎ subtoate formele / Ausstellung von Britischen Aquarellen Zeichnungen, Muzeul Roma Stelian, Bucharest; Prague; Vienna, 15/12/1935-02/03/1936
British Art Exhibition, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 06/01/1934-10/03/1934
Meisterwerke englischer Malerei aus drei Jahrhunderten, Vienna, 1927
Burlington Fine Arts Club, London, 1926-27 ...Less
Literature
Dr. Anya Matthews, A Great and Noble Design, Hampton Printing (Bristol) Ltd October 2016
p. 19
English Baroque sketches: the painter interior in the age of Thornhill, Marble Hill House, Twickenham, 1974
cat. no. 20
Anthony Blunt and Philip Troutman, Master Drawings from the Witt and Courtauld Collections, 1962
cat. no. 14 ...More
Architectural Drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1961
Drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1958 - 1959
cat. no. 9
Girouard, Mark, 'An English Master of the Baroque' in 'Country Life', 19 June 1958
p. 1360ff
fig. 6
Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 51
Drawings by Old Masters, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1953
cat. no. 443
Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London, York City Art Gallery and Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953
cat. no. 40
Desenul şi gravura englezá, secole le XVIII-XX. Expoziţie de desen, acuaretà, pastel şi gravurǎ subtoate formele / Ausstellung von Britischen Aquarellen Zeichnungen, Muzeul Roma Stelian, Bucharest; Prague; Vienna, 1935-1936
cat. no. 397 (Vienna), 254 (Bucarest)
pl. 1
British Art Exhibition: commemorative catalogue, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1934
cat. no. 1295
no. 559 ...Less
p. 19
English Baroque sketches: the painter interior in the age of Thornhill, Marble Hill House, Twickenham, 1974
cat. no. 20
Anthony Blunt and Philip Troutman, Master Drawings from the Witt and Courtauld Collections, 1962
cat. no. 14 ...More
Architectural Drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Gallery, London, 1961
Drawings from the Witt Collection, Courtauld Institute Galleries, London, 1958 - 1959
cat. no. 9
Girouard, Mark, 'An English Master of the Baroque' in 'Country Life', 19 June 1958
p. 1360ff
fig. 6
Blunt, Anthony, Hand-list of the drawings in the Witt Collection, London, 1956
p. 51
Drawings by Old Masters, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1953
cat. no. 443
Drawings from the Witt Collection at the Courtauld Institute of Art, St James's Square, London, York City Art Gallery and Peterborough Art Gallery, 1953
cat. no. 40
Desenul şi gravura englezá, secole le XVIII-XX. Expoziţie de desen, acuaretà, pastel şi gravurǎ subtoate formele / Ausstellung von Britischen Aquarellen Zeichnungen, Muzeul Roma Stelian, Bucharest; Prague; Vienna, 1935-1936
cat. no. 397 (Vienna), 254 (Bucarest)
pl. 1
British Art Exhibition: commemorative catalogue, Royal Academy of Arts, London, 1934
cat. no. 1295
no. 559 ...Less
Inscriptions
Watermark: Watermark: centre: Strasburg lily above "4" above monogram "WR".
Inscription: v Eight
Inscription: The Goat was put among / ye Celest: signs by Jove / because he was suckld / by ye milk thereof / Castor & Pollux / ye same as Gemini / vid: Galer: p. 155 & / Hom:Odys: p 11th //
Inscription: Cehel ye arms / of Scorpio //
Inscription: 5
Inscription: (d)
Inscription: Gloir. des Princes
Inscription: Vict. attending_Fame_Prudence &c.
Inscription: Britania rewarding her generlls.
Inscription: 54 ftt
Inscription: French Slaves - Colours, Trophies &c / brought before Brittania - by her Genrlls: / Nept Lays his Trident at / her feet - &c //
Inscription: 14/28/76 [this crossed out]/ 56
Inscription: 4.10
Inscription: v Eight
Inscription: The Goat was put among / ye Celest: signs by Jove / because he was suckld / by ye milk thereof / Castor & Pollux / ye same as Gemini / vid: Galer: p. 155 & / Hom:Odys: p 11th //
Inscription: Cehel ye arms / of Scorpio //
Inscription: 5
Inscription: (d)
Inscription: Gloir. des Princes
Inscription: Vict. attending_Fame_Prudence &c.
Inscription: Britania rewarding her generlls.
Inscription: 54 ftt
Inscription: French Slaves - Colours, Trophies &c / brought before Brittania - by her Genrlls: / Nept Lays his Trident at / her feet - &c //
Inscription: 14/28/76 [this crossed out]/ 56
Inscription: 4.10
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