Consolidating the Fragile Murals in the Banqueting Room

The Banqueting Room murals were created and installed by Robert Jones in the early 1820’s. They were painted in oils on fine weave canvas with silver leaf backgrounds.

In 1847 all the murals were removed by Queen Victoria and taken to London. To  fill the gaps where the murals once were, the painter C.W.Vick was commissioned to paint a series of decorative schemes. These were done on paper glued to the walls.

In 1863 eight of the original Robert Jones murals were returned. Three larger murals and six narrower murals. The remaining murals in London were installed and still hang in Buckingham Palace.

It is interesting to think that although these murals were commissioned specifically for the Royal Pavilion, they have been in Buckingham Palace for longer than they were at The Pavilion. They have been in the Palace for about 150 years, compared to the 25 years or so they hung in the Banqueting Room of the Pavilion.

Presumably there was a big visual difference between the returned Jones murals and the decorative schemes done by C.W.Vick . So in 1863 A French artist, Antoine (Tony) Dury was commissioned to make similar schemes and match the returned Robert Jones murals. These are of an incredibly high standard and although not copies of the originals, they have been painted imitating Robert Jones’ style and technique.

Dury plastered over Vicks design and painted his schemes directly onto the plaster. One mural in particular, Mural No.13, has had ongoing issues with lifting paint. The mural is situated in the north west corner of the Banqueting Room. It is the last mural on the right before you leave the Banqueting Room as you go out towards the Music Room.

Remedial work is needed because the paint, paper and plaster which make up the substrate are lifting.

Therefore glue is carefully introduced behind the flakes and when this is dry, it is carefully warmed and flattened with a small, heated spatula. This work can only be undertaken whilst we are closed because it is on the visitor route.

The Conservation Team continually monitor all the fragile collections at each site as a part of an ongoing programme of work.

Two of the larger Robert Jones Murals that were returned in 1863 were not installed in the Banqueting Room. Instead they were hung for a while in the entrance hall either side of the doorway into the long gallery until 1970’s .

They are currently in the Museums store. We are planning to bring them back into the building in early spring and although it won’t be possible to hang them in the Banqueting Room, they will be installed in the Deckers.

We are looking forward to having them back in the building – watch this space for more updates!