Ask the Scholar

Although having been extesively conserved, this painting is of interest as a record of the Painted Hall during the first half of the 19th century. The structure, designed by Sir Christopher Wren between 1696 and 1704 and decorated by the painter Sir James Thornhill between 1708 and 1727, served as a refectory until 1824. Then it was transformed into a Naval Picture Gallery, with all its lower windows blocked to accommodate the paintings. Not until 1936 was the collection transferred to the National Maritime Museum.Davis shows the interior looking from the vestibule, through the 106 foot long Great Hall, toward the Upper Hall. A couple of elderly naval pensioners are seated at the left while others are shown on the flight of stairs and in the Hall. In the foreground, are two of four large plaster casts taken from the statues of British admirals by Flaxman, Westmacott and Baily in St. Paul's Cathedral.A pencil drawing by the artist of this subject, dated 1830, is in the collection of the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London (identification number: ZBA5005).