Artist
James Thornhill
British, 1675–1734
James Thornhill was a British Baroque artist. 22 works are cataloged here, principally at Victoria and Albert Museum. James Thornhill was born in Melcombe Regis.
William and Mary Presenting the Cap of Liberty to Europe (sketch for the painted ceiling of the Great Hall, Greenwich Hospital)
Allegorical Figures: Clemency, Prudence and Justice with Pallas, Heroic Poetry, Liberty, Discretion, History and Mercury (from the Royal State Coach for George I)
Aeneas before Dido, and Venus Supplicating Jupiter (sketch for a wall and ceiling decoration)
Allegorical Figures: Britannia Enthroned, Surrounded by Concord, Learning and Religion Overcoming Vice (from the Royal State Coach for George I)
The Birth of Venus, and the Gods of Olympus (sketch for a wall and ceiling decoration)
Sketch for a Ceiling Design
Sir James Thornhill was an English painter of historical subjects working in the Italian baroque tradition. He was responsible for some large-scale schemes of murals, including the "Painted Hall" at the Royal Hospital, Greenwich, the paintings on the inside of the dome of St Paul's Cathedral, and works at Hampton Court Palace, Chatsworth House and Wimpole Hall.
Works by James Thornhill
- William and Mary Presenting the Cap of Liberty to Europe (sketch for the painted ceiling of the Great Hall, Greenwich Hospital)
- Allegorical Figures: Clemency, Prudence and Justice with Pallas, Heroic Poetry, Liberty, Discretion, History and Mercury (from the Royal State Coach for George I)
- Aeneas before Dido, and Venus Supplicating Jupiter (sketch for a wall and ceiling decoration)
- Allegorical Figures: Britannia Enthroned, Surrounded by Concord, Learning and Religion Overcoming Vice (from the Royal State Coach for George I)
- The Birth of Venus, and the Gods of Olympus (sketch for a wall and ceiling decoration)
- Sketch for a Ceiling Design
Allegorical design with figures: Clemency, Prudence and Justice with Pallas, Heroic Poetry, Liberty, Discretion, History and Mercury (preliminary design for a panel from Royal State Coach for George I)
Study for King Josiah Rending his Garments
Design for a ceiling possibly at Thornhill House, Dorset
Two designs for overdoor paintings depicting Diana and Acteon (left) and Bacchus and Erigone (right)
Design for a painting within an architectural setting depicting Ptolemy I commissioning the Library at Alexandria
Design for an illusionistic panel in the Great Hall at Blenheim Palace
Design for a wall and ceiling painting, possibly for Chatsworth, Derbyshire
Design for a stage set for Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus at the Theatre Royal, London for Act I, scene 1, Arsinoe sleeping in a garden at night
Study for an oval painting
Drawing, Design for a stage set for Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus at the Theatre Royal, London for Act II, scene 1, a great hall looking into a garden
Two designs for the inset paintings in the lower wall of the Great Hall at Moor Park, Hertfordshire
St Paul Shipwrecked on the Island of Malta
Design for an illusionistic panel in the Great Hall at Blenheim Palace
Aeneas before Dido in the Temple of Juno
Three preparatory studies for the Burning of the Books at Ephesus
Design for the lower wall of the Great Hall at Moor Park, Hertfordshire
Collections represented
- Allegorical design with figures: Clemency, Prudence and Justice with Pallas, Heroic Poetry, Liberty, Discretion, History and Mercury (preliminary design for a panel from Royal State Coach for George I)
- Study for King Josiah Rending his Garments
- Design for a ceiling possibly at Thornhill House, Dorset
- Two designs for overdoor paintings depicting Diana and Acteon (left) and Bacchus and Erigone (right)
- Design for a painting within an architectural setting depicting Ptolemy I commissioning the Library at Alexandria
- Design for an illusionistic panel in the Great Hall at Blenheim Palace
- Design for a wall and ceiling painting, possibly for Chatsworth, Derbyshire
- Design for a stage set for Arsinoe, Queen of Cyprus at the Theatre Royal, London for Act I, scene 1, Arsinoe sleeping in a garden at night
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