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Blenheim Palace Ornate Ceiling


Blenheim Palace Ornate Ceiling
Photo Information
Copyright: Helen Matten (Helkoryo) Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2074 W: 251 N: 4932] (21996)
Genre: Places
Medium: Color
Date Taken: 2008-07-20
Categories: Architecture
Camera: Canon EOS 400D/Rebel XTi
Exposure: f/4, 1/60 seconds
More Photo Info: [view]
Photo Version: Original Version, Workshop
Date Submitted: 2008-08-04 0:39
Viewed: 245
Points: 30
[Note Guidelines] Photographer's Note
Good morning Peeps

Todays capture was taken in the chapel at Blenheim palace. The most beautiful decorative ceiling. I had three shots from three different angles so will post the other two to workshop.

to continue the history of the building of this magnificant palace.....

The queen's decision to pay for the house was never officially recorded, and warrants of June 1705 appointing the architect and joint comptrollers of works were issued by the Lord Treasurer at the duke's request, making no reference to the Crown's interest. It was understood that costs would be met from the Civil List, but those handling the payments (Samuel Travers, Surveyor General of Crown lands, and John Taylor, his deputy) were accountable not to the Treasury but to the duke. When the Marlboroughs' political power declined the unbridled expenditure on Blenheim was at once called into question.

According to Vanbrugh the duke at first had in mind a house costing £40,000, but in July 1705, when Sir Christopher Wren, Surveyor General of royal works, visited the site, he estimated the cost at c. £100,000. That estimate omitted many features of the eventual plan, notably the service courts, the ambitious northern approach, the heightening of the main block, and the laying out of the gardens and park. The model which Vanbrugh later claimed that the queen had approved and which he had 'exactly followed' evidently postdated Wren's estimate and several changes of plan, and may have been prepared as late as 1708. Vanbrugh's own estimates were unreliable: in July 1707 he was expecting to finish in 1709, but by 1708, after delays in acquiring suitable stone, he recognized that even two more seasons would leave the west side unfinished. In October 1710, when the problem of money supply became acute and the duchess ordered all work to cease until the Crown sanctioned further payments, Vanbrugh felt that he might 'almost' undertake to finish for another £30,000, but four years later was still estimating over £54,000. When pressed he admitted that the total cost of the building would be £ 287,000, 'a large sum for a house, but a poor reward for the services that occasioned building it.

The Crown's expenditure before its commitment ceased on 1 June 1712 (excluding £ 13,000 spent on clearing Woodstock park of 'incumbrances') was £ 220,000, and it was later accepted that a further £ 45,000 was owing to Blenheim workmen. After work restarted in 1716 the Marlboroughs spent a further £ 32,000 up to 1720, and the duchess claimed to have spent another £ 25,000 after the duke's death, out of £ 50,000 left to her to finish Blenheim. Elsewhere she claimed that the house had or would cost the family £ 100,000 to complete. Expenditure in several years is unaccounted for, and the extent of unsettled debts uncertain, but it is unlikely that the building cost less than £ 325,000. Vanbrugh frequently protested his frugality, attributing rising costs largely to the failure of the park quarries. The duchess regarded him as a spendthrift who paid excessive wages, wasted materials, and without authority changed already extravagant plans.

From: 'Blenheim: Blenheim Palace', A History of the County of Oxford: Volume 12: ...... more follows tomorrow.

I decided not to frame these images as there is so much detail and framing would greatly reduce the size, so this and the two in workshop are as taken.

TTFN and many thanks for taking the time to view my images

Kind regards Helen
Janice, manujmehta, WMcK, M_A_C_R_O, wieyos, Silke, jan515, cunejo200 has marked this note useful
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Critiques [Translate]

  • Great 
  • jone Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor [C: 1888 W: 73 N: 0] (18572)
  • [2008-08-04 0:41]

Morning Helen ;)))
Very nice photo...good perspective, TFS
Have a nice day,
J ;)

  • Great 
  • Janice Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3157 W: 237 N: 7020] (28231)
  • [2008-08-04 1:35]

How ornate all this is. Those ££££'s certainly must add up, even today with the upkeep of the palace.
Thanks Helen for the views - it is interesting to see how the other half live.
Very fascinating, thank you
Janice

Indeed Helen,

Your note and picture show that England indeed has a Rich history!

Lovely view inside the chapel.

TFS
Els

Great capture Helen. It sure shows a great deal of details.
Amazing how much has been kept so well over all these years. The UK has a real rich history indeed!

Cheers,
Anneke

hello Helen
how are you?
very nice design
i love these soft colours.
nice contemporary art work
wonderful display, nice perspective and POV

regards
Manuj MEhta

  • Great 
  • WMcK Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 774 W: 11 N: 1754] (6833)
  • [2008-08-04 4:07]

The workmen ship you show us here is amazing Helen. I love the note to tell us of the construction over runs. One can only imagine having a ceiling such as this. You have been able to capture it beautifully and the way you presented it is just perfect. A wonderful example of architecture that is not only beautiful but the history is wonderful. Thank you for the great notes.
Warm Regards
Wanda

Helen Hi:
Marvelous presentation of the ornate work. Your compostion presents this with clarity, detail and amazing light.
Excellent note, Thanks
Congratulations, nicely done.
Larry
USA-tfs

  • Great 
  • Mitra Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 1320 W: 75 N: 838] (7426)
  • [2008-08-04 6:20]

Hello Helen,
Very nice photo with good perspective & light.Well done.
Mitra

Hi Helen,
a fabulous and delicate works of art and architecture you beautifully captured and clearly presented here. the soft pastel colour is no less impressive.

TFS
Regards
Agoes

  • Great 
  • Silke Gold Star Critiquer/Gold Star Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 3228 W: 282 N: 6427] (24121)
  • [2008-08-04 10:59]

Expert light handling here, Helen
I just love the delicate pastels you have captured here
TFs
silke

very nice shot Helen and very well presented must have been some work to do that ceiling

He Smurf! :-)
Is this your new ceiling? Great stuff Yoh! Excellent sharp and quite a special POV.
Great posting Blondie!
Any news on the Gauntlet?
Hans

  • Great 
  • jan515 Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 2489 W: 48 N: 3012] (14302)
  • [2008-08-04 13:13]

Hello Helen,
Wonderful collected moment with good sharpness, perfect details and a wonderful effect of the picture. Very good work. Congratulations.
Janusz

  • Great 
  • lele Gold Star Critiquer/Silver Workshop Editor/Gold Note Writer [C: 677 W: 21 N: 643] (6182)
  • [2008-08-04 13:17]

ciao helen...bellissimo soggetto...grande pov....bello il risalto del giallo...ottimi dettagli...complimenti..
lele

Hi Helen,
This deserves an 'oh wow'. And with a big exclamation! It certainly is difficult to meter indoor conditions especially a church. Very imoressive details, colors, and texture. My best regards, Danilo

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