18th Century Frescoes Restored at Old Royal Naval College

LONDON. In the famous Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College, restoration work began on frescoes by Sir James Thornhill in the Baroque style on the western wall of the hall. It is planned to complete the project in May 2013.

The Art Hall (Painted Hall) of the Old Royal Naval College

The project is run by experienced restorers, Paine & Stewart. The last time the painting was in the hands of experts 50 years ago, so now the artists have to carry out a large amount of work to clean the frescoes from dirt and stabilize some large cracks in the wall. During work, experts found particles of dust, grease, soot, and even sauce in the picture.

Starting from mid-January, excursion programs will begin in Painted Hall, for which a viewing platform will be specially built. In addition, it is planned to create a documentary about the history of the hall with the participation of local students and participants in restoration work.

Painted Hall is often called the "best dining room in Europe." Created by Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor, it was originally conceived as a dining room for veterans of the British Navy who lived at the Royal Sailors Hospital. The fantasy and unsurpassed talent of James Thornhill paid tribute to the greatness of Britain as a sea power.

The painting of the hall lasted nineteen years, and when they were finished, it was decided to abandon the original purpose of the Painted Hall. For little money, excursions began to be brought here, and the old sailors who lived in the hospital acted as guides. For his work, Thornhill received a knighthood in 1720 and about 7,000 pounds (730 thousand pounds today), and his work is still considered the best work of English artists in terms of interior painting.

In 1806, three months after the Battle of Trafalgar, the body of Horatio Nelson was delivered to the Painted Hall. And today, the plaque marks the place where the coffin stood before it was buried in the crypt of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

Between 1824 and 1936, the Painted Hall was known as the National Gallery of Naval Art, where more than 300 paintings on naval themes were exhibited. These paintings, along with busts, drawings, ship models and personal belongings of Nelson, formed the basis of the art collection of the National Maritime Museum.

In 1939, after extensive restoration, the Painted Hall began to be used as a dining room by staff at the Royal Naval College. It also hosts events of international status.

In 1946, a banquet was held in honor of the creation of the United Nations.