GREENWICH.- The Painted Hall of the Old Royal Naval College Greenwich, described as ‘the Sistine Chapel of the UK’, will undergo a major transformation over the next two years, including the conservation of Sir James Thornhill’s painted ceiling and the creation of a new visitor centre, gallery and café. As part of this landmark project, visitors are being given a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see progress on the conservation close up through a series of ceiling tours which will be launched on 1 April 2017. A lift will enable people of all ages and abilities, to reach the top-level platform and see the conservators at work.

A major gift of £1m from The Gosling Foundation was announced today. Although the project is not fully funded, other grants including £3.2m awarded from the Heritage Lottery Fund in March 2016 and support from some of the UK’s leading philanthropists have enabled the £8.5m conservation project to begin. A further £2m is necessary to complete the project.

Over the next two years, conservators will work on 3,400 square meters of painted surface, bringing new life and vibrancy to paintings obscured by decades of decay. A new visitor route and a range of sophisticated environmental controls are designed to ensure no further intervention will be necessary for 100 years.

The Painted Hall is the jewel of the Old Royal Naval College, designed by Sir Christopher Wren and opened in 1694. Considered to be the greatest work of decorative painting in England, the walls and ceilings were painted by Sir James Thornhill between 1708 and 1727 with a series of spectacular baroque paintings framed by trompe l’oeil architecture. The paintings celebrate the royal founders of the Hospital, William III and Mary II, together with successive monarchs, Anne and George I.

The Painted Hall catapulted Thornhill to fame and he subsequently won important commissions, including the dome of St Paul’s Cathedral, the chapel ceiling of Queen’s College Oxford and the hall of Blenheim Palace. He was appointed history painter-in-ordinary to the king in 1718, sergeant-painter to the king in 1720, and knighted in the same year.

William Palin, Conservation Director said: “The Painted Hall is one of Britain’s greatest architectural and artistic treasures, but it is too little known. This project aims to raise it to the national and international prominence it deserves, providing a transformed and enriched visitor experience and helping us to engage with new audiences.”

Sir Donald Gosling said: "For many years I have visited and dined in the Painted Hall Greenwich, revelling in its historic links with the Royal Navy. It is a jewel in the heart of the Royal borough and rivals the Sistine Chapel for splendour. I am delighted that the Gosling Foundation can help preserve it in all its glory for future generations."

Alongside the conservation work a programme of public engagement will celebrate every element of the Painted Hall and its history, promoting skills, dialogue, and independent discovery in the exploration of the universal stories and timeless themes of Sir James Thornhill’s paintings.

Hugh Broughton Architects has been announced as the lead consultant to deliver the project.