Sir James Thornhill was an English painter in the 17th century who worked in the Italian baroque style. He is best known for his large-scale paintings at the Royal Hospital in Greenwich called the "Painted Hall" which took him 19 years to complete. Thornhill developed a technique of painting on dry lime plaster with lead oxide and then oils which allowed for corrections. He included himself in the Painted Hall paintings to memorialize his unpaid work. Thornhill's mastery of the Italian baroque style and his monumental projects like the Painted Hall established his reputation as a leading English history painter of his time.

1. Sir James Thornhill

2. Stile di Sir James Thornhill
• Sir James Thornhill was an English painter that painted historical subjects and the
style in the Italian baroque tradition. Thornhill may have mastered the painting
techniques from the Italian and French artist’s then working in England. I found
it interesting that he has this particular style as he is a an English painter but has a
style of an Italian.
• He was responsible for some large-scale schemes of paintings, such as the "Painted
Hall" at the Royal Hospital in Greenwich. The ‘Painted Hall’ has such high quality
art work, which is located all within the hall. Not one piece in the ‘Painted Hall’
hasn’t been painted with such precision. (1708–27). This has taken him 19 years
to complete the ‘painted hall’.
Style of Sir James Thornhill

3. Techniques of Sir James Thornhill
• The painting is done a dry lime plaster (strengthened with animal hair) and is called
fresco secco. Once dry, Thornhill’s method was to float in lead oxide and when
that was dry, to paint directly onto to it in oils. Oil is good to work with as you
can take sections away that you don’t like and redo them, it is a good media to use
for the ‘Painted Hall’.
• There are also two distinctive areas of paint, the less important parts were done in
grisaille, which is shades of grey with gilt highlights. This provided the framework
that holds the whole work together. These tell the story of the Calydonian Hunt
which comes from Roman author, Ovid’s book called Metamorphoses

4. History Of Sir James Thornhill
• Thornhill became the history painter and sergeant painter to George I and
George II, then master of the Painters’ Company in 1720, fellow of the
Royal Society in 1723, and member of Parliament from 1722 to 1734 and
was knighted in 1720. He worked more locally at Moor Park in
Rickmansworth. Where Benjamin Haskyn Styles appointed him as
Surveyor & Architect to re-model the old Mansion in 1720.
• Thornhill had a son, John, and a daughter, Jane, who married the painter
William Hogarth. A portrait of Thornhill by Hogarth may be seen in the
British Library.

5. What does this part of the painting represent?
When I look into the history of this particular painting I understand why he has painted
himself in this particular position due to that he was never paid for his hard labour as it took
him 19 years to finally finish this art project, but was never paid that is very unfair. The
position of his which is behind his back could indicate where is the money that he has earned
while doing this art work. Also his facial expressions makes you think he is starring right at
you as it seems that he disappointed/angry with the way he was treated. I do like the idea of
him painting himself into the painting as everyone remembers who he is and also makes
everyone know that he was never paid for all of the work they see in the ‘Painted Hall’ today.
We appreciate what he has created as there are so many people who go and see it.

6. Evaluation
• When looking at all of these information about Sir James Thornhill I was very intrigued that
he was a Englishman but painted in a style of a Italian painter. All of the paintings he has
done have some sort of link, which I think is historical figures and he has painted people
with wings and painted the birth of Venus. It was very unfortunate that he wasn’t paid for
his hard work he did in the ‘painted hall’. As he wasn’t paid he painted himself in the wall to
let everyone remember who he is and what he has done. When I first visited the Old Royal
Naval College the ‘Painted Hall’ really intrigued because it was so detailed and when looking
at the artwork on the wall looks like wall paper that you can just rip it off as it looks so
fragile. When I looked at all the artwork it felt like it spoke to me as it has elements of
history which I am very interested in. Historical Figures is what I want to focus on in this
project and it was Sir James Thornhill that inspired me to go down that path.

7. Evaluation
• When looking at all of these information about Sir James Thornhill I was very intrigued that
he was a Englishman but painted in a style of a Italian painter. All of the paintings he has
done have some sort of link, which I think is historical figures and he has painted people
with wings and painted the birth of Venus. It was very unfortunate that he wasn’t paid for
his hard work he did in the ‘painted hall’. As he wasn’t paid he painted himself in the wall to
let everyone remember who he is and what he has done. When I first visited the Old Royal
Naval College the ‘Painted Hall’ really intrigued because it was so detailed and when looking
at the artwork on the wall looks like wall paper that you can just rip it off as it looks so
fragile. When I looked at all the artwork it felt like it spoke to me as it has elements of
history which I am very interested in. Historical Figures is what I want to focus on in this
project and it was Sir James Thornhill that inspired me to go down that path.