William and Mary Presenting the Cap of Liberty to Europe (sketch for the painted ceiling of the Great Hall, Greenwich Hospital)
1710
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
1710
oil
From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum
This painting is a sketch for a ceiling in the Great Hall of Greenwich Hospital. It shows William and Mary, the king and queen of England, presenting a cap of liberty to Europe. The scene is crowded with figures, and the colors are rich and vivid. In the center of the painting, William and Mary are shown in elaborate robes, holding a cap of liberty aloft. The figures around them are arranged in a complex composition, with some looking up at the royal couple and others gazing out at the viewer. The overall effect is one of grandeur and celebration. The painting is a good example of the work of James Thornhill, a British artist known for his decorative paintings.
