Thornhill, James (1675-1734)
Creator details
- Name
- Thornhill, James (1675-1734)
- Nationality
- English
- Biography
- James Thornhill (1675-1734) was an English painter, born in Dorset. He was known for his grandiose Baroque style and his ability to create large-scale murals. Thornhill studied under the painter Thomas Highmore and later traveled to Italy to study the works of the great masters. Thornhill's most famous work is the painted ceiling of the dome of St. Paul's Cathedral in London, which he completed in 1715. He also painted murals in the Painted Hall at the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, London, which took him 19 years to complete. Thornhill was appointed as the official history painter to George I and George II and was knighted in 1720. He was also a member of the Royal Academy of Arts and served as its first president from 1718 to 1720. Thornhill's legacy lives on through his impressive works of art, which continue to inspire and awe viewers to this day.
