Benjamin West and the Royal Hospital for Seamen

Old Royal Naval College
Benjamin West and the Royal Hospital for Seamen image
Ad
Event has ended
This event ended on Saturday 4th of March 2017
Admission
Free
Venue Information
Old Royal Naval College
2 Cutty Sark Gardens, Greenwich, SE10 9LW
Nearest Tube/Rail Stations
Cutty Sark for Maritime Greenwich 0.13 miles

The American artist Benjamin West (1738-1820) had a long relationship with the Royal Hospital for Seamen, now the site of the Old Royal Naval College, creating some of its most significant art works.

Join us for this free tour exploring West’s artistic legacy in Greenwich. Starting in the Chapel, we’ll take a closer look at the vast painted altarpiece depicting the shipwreck of St Paul on the island of Malta. This unusual subject would have resonated with the retired seamen who lived in the Hospital, most of whom would have experienced storms at sea and the very real threat of annihilation. Several decades later West designed the Nelson Pediment, a tribute to Nelson’s heroism and a masterpiece in coade stone.

The tour will explore these works in the context of West’s extraordinary career, a Pennsylvanian born-artist from a rural Quaker community who rose to become one of Britain’s preeminent painters.

Tags: Tours

User Reviews

There are no user reviews