sir james thornhill, a renowned english painter, was born in melcombe regis, dorset, in 1675. he was the son of walter thornhill of wareham and mary, eldest daughter of colonel william sydenham, governor of weymouth. in 1689, thornhill was apprenticed to thomas highmore, a specialist in non-figurative decorative painting.
artistic career
thornhill's artistic career spanned over four decades, during which he worked on numerous large-scale schemes of murals, including the "painted hall" at the royal hospital, greenwich. he also decorated palace interiors with large-scale compositions, featuring figures in idealized and rhetorical postures.
sir james thornhill's work on the dome of st paul's cathedral (1716-19) showcases his mastery of grisaille, depicting episodes from the life of st. paul.
his murals in great houses often related to topical events, as seen through the eyes of his mainly whig patrons, such as the continuous wall and ceiling painting of the sabine room at chatsworth.
thornhill's last major commission was to paint the chapel at wimpole hall, which he started in 1713 and completed by 1724.
notable artworks and collections
some of thornhill's notable artworks can be found in various museums and collections, including:
Explore the fascinating career of James Northcote, bridging Rococo elegance with early British realism. Discover his portraits, Shakespeare Gallery works & insightful art criticism. Learn more at WahooArt.
