River Thames bank: Historic royal palace of Hampton Court continue… June 1, 2008
Posted by dodo in : Europe, London, USA , add a commentThe splendour of Henry VAT’s enlargements can be assessed in the Great Hall, built in 1531-6 to replace Wolsey’s smaller hall. So eager was Henry to see the room finished that he ordered the workmen to labour throughout the night by candlelight. The interior of the hall, which measures 97 by 40 feet, is dominated by an imposing hammer- beam roof that recalls the pioneer example in Westminster Hall, London. Another remarkable ceiling of Henry’s time is the wooden fan vaulting added to the Chapel Royal in 1535-6. Here the carved and gilded pendants stand out against a dark blue ground powdered with stars. The royal pew of the chapel leads to an L-shaped room asso¬ciated with the tragic fate of Catherine Howard, Henry’s fifth andsecond-to-last wife. (more…)
River Thames bank: Historic royal palace of Hampton Court June 1, 2008
Posted by dodo in : England, Europe, Jerusalem, London, Museum, Spain , 4commentsThe historic royal palace of Hampton Court stands on the north bank of the River Thames about 11 miles west of Charing Cross in London. This large complex is in fact two palaces in one, for as one moves eastwards from the west front the Tudor wings built in the time of Henry VIII yield to later work designed by Sir Christopher Wren for William and Mary. These two halves represent two distinct and important periods in the history of English architecture—the late medieval Perpendicular style tinged with Renaissance elements and the English Baroque affected by French and Italian influence. Yet overall unity is preserved by the use of warm-toned brickwork and the more-or-less symmetrical balancing of successive low wings. (more…)
