Scale Copy, Queen’s Drawing Room, Hampton Court, Ceiling

Location

Country: UK
City: London
Place: Government Art Collection

This is a small scale copy by William MacLeod of a painted ceiling in the royal residence of Hampton Court. It depicts Queen Anne surrounded by a host of personified virtues. The Queen is portrayed as Justice, with scales in one hand and a sword in the other. Above her, holding a crown, are Neptune and Britannia, representing her dominion over sea and earth. The original ceiling, located in the Queen's Drawing Room was painted by Italian artist Antonio Verrio (c.1636- 1707) who covered the walls of Hampton Court Palace with scenes drawn from Ovid's 'Metamorphoses'. Verrio worked at Hampton court for William III and Queen Anne between 1700 and 1705.

Little is known of the life of the painter of this work, William J. MacLeod, (active 1928–1950) other than it is thought that he worked for the Government department the Ministry of Works. Another work in the GAC, a scale copy of the ceiling of the Queen’s Drawing Room at Hampton Court – a copy of fresco by A. Verrio – indicates that MacLeod worked in the Restoration Studio at the Ministry of Works.

Places

England, Middlesex, Hampton Court Palace

Subjects

bugle, ball, decorative art & craft, wing, shell, cloud, man, woman, nude, Greek mythology, putto, ceiling, palace interior

Materials & Techniques

board, oil, oil painting

Artist

William J MacLeod

Title

Scale Copy, Queen’s Drawing Room, Hampton Court, Ceiling

Date

1950

Medium

Oil on board

Dimensions

height: 110.00 cm, width: 92.00 cm

Acquisition

Created during employment by Ministry of Works

Inscription

br: W.J.MACLEOD. / M.O.W. / 1950

Provenance

Commissioned by the Ministry of Works

GAC number

14950