Repro ID: H1543
Title: The Royal Naval College.
Description: A view through the central gates on the riverside path looking down the axis of the hospital to the Queen's House. When Queen Mary wished to build a hospital for 'feable and needy seamen', Sir Christopher Wren, arguably the best architect in Europe at the time, offered his services for free. Due to budget contraints he had to amend his original plan of a grand central dome to become two small domes as seen here. Many at the time hated this concept. In his famous view of the buildings, Canaletto is said to have painted out the Queen's House in the background to compensate for its insignificance resulting from Wren's design.
Creator: Unknown
Date: Unknown
Credit line: National Maritime Museum, London
