THE PAINTED HALL ......AT THE OLD ROYAL NAVAL COLLEGE GREENWICH LONDON

Well I finally managed a recent visit to the newly refurbished and even more
spectacular Painted Hall in the grounds of The Old Royal Naval College in Greenwich. 
 I had originally planned to make a visit there late last year in November.
And it was only at the eleventh hour that I discovered that the Great Hall
 was in fact closed down for a two year lottery funded refurbishment project
at a cost of £8.5 million, recently re-opening to the public in March,
although before the official re-opening visitors were allowed close up views
of the main ceiling by climbing up steps on the temporary Hall scaffolding.

This classic English Baroque building was originally opened in 1649. And
the grand interior and ceiling was painted between 1707 and 1726 by artist
Sir James Thornhill. And it's not surprising that the Great Hall is often
referred to as Britain's Sistine Chapel.

For those that can afford it, The Hall is open for public hire for events like
wedding receptions and banquets. And the grounds of The Old Royal Naval
College just outside The Hall is well worth exploring.

The Hall itself was used for Admiral Lord Nelson's laying-in-state in 1806
after Nelson's death at The Battle of Trafalgar. And there's even a plaque in
the floor marking the spot where Nelson was laid.

It's quite odd how I sometimes read that the artist responsible for this grand
20 year project has often been overlooked by history. Yet back in his day
Sir James Thornhill's name and fame as an artist was unrivalled.
And yet for me the artist's name doesn't slip off the tongue as easily as
 artists like the more familiar Turner, Joshua Reynolds or Gainsborough.

The main great ceiling artwork in the Painted Hall celebrates the accessions
to the throne of William III and Mary II in 1688 as well as George I in 1714,
while also depicting a cast of 200 figures that tell a story of political change,
scientific and cultural achievements, naval endeavours, and commercial
enterprise against a series of spectacular backdrops.

For more information on The Old Royal Naval College as well as The Great
Painted Hall visit their official website HERE.


OH, AND WELCOME TO OUR NEWLY REVISED BLOG CHRYSALISM,
A BLOG FOR SOME OF MY OWN PERSONAL STUFF. WITH THINGS
LIKE MY OWN PHOTOGRAPHY INCLUDING SEASONAL NATURE
AND FESTIVAL PICTURES TAKEN AROUND LONDON AS WELL AS
DAY TRIPS AROUND OUR COAST. AND NOT FORGETTING MY
MANY PICTURES TAKEN AROUND WEST CORNWALL.
ALSO INCLUDED HERE WILL BE SOME PICTURES OF ANY HOME
BUILDING PROJECTS. I ALWAYS SEEM TO HAVE SO MANY ON THE GO.

Above and below: The grounds of The Old Royal Naval College
designed by Sir Christopher Wren.
And just close by is The River Thames and Canary Wharf.
The Cutty Sark Ship is the best starting point for a visit to
these historic grounds.

Below and quite close to The Cutty Sark is Hardys Sweetshop Greenwich.
It's a candy shop paradise for lovers of vintage sweets.
And we're talking sweets that you simply don't see any more.