Britain’s ‘Sistine Chapel’ reopens after multimillion pound restoration
Written by News on 23/03/2019
The building dubbed the UK’s Sistine Chapel reopens today after a two-year, £8.5m restoration.
The Painted Hall, at the Old Royal Naval College, Greenwich, is unparalleled in the UK in terms of scale and execution.
Originally the Royal Hospital for Seaman, it was designed by renowned architect Sir Christopher Wren.
But the stand-out feature is its painted ceiling, decorated by artist James Thornhill and completed in 1705.
The ceiling depicts, and celebrates, 17th and 18th century English protestant monarchs, shown against the backdrop of the perceived autocracy of predominantly Catholic Europe.
Its 4,000 square metres of vivid colour and incredible detail, but centuries of smoke, pollution and touch-ups had left the surface dulled and obscure.
Work to restore it involved more than more than 3,000 people, including artisans, architects and fundraisers.
“It’s been an epic undertaking,” Will Palin, conservation director at the Old Royal Naval College told Sky News.
“I think it now looks the best it’s looked since Thornhill put the paintbrush down. And I’d like to think he’d give us a pat on the back for having preserved his legacy.”
The restoration teams found some surprises along the way.
Remains of Henry VIII’s Greenwich Palace were discovered under the hall’s floor.
Restoration teams found one signature, left by a cheeky 17th century restorer, on the bosom of the depiction Queen Mary.
The signature, which isn’t visible from the ground, has been left intact for visitors to enjoy.
Angela McConville, chief executive of the Old Royal Naval College, told Sky News: “I hope visitors will have a genuine sense of wonder.
“But then the more they immerse themselves in the experience they’ll see its playful, there’s allegory and mythology and storytelling, and I hope they get a real sense of pleasure from it.”
(c) Sky News 2019: Britain’s ‘Sistine Chapel’ reopens after multimillion pound restoration
