The nave and aisles are lighted at night by nine polished brass coronæ,
of characteristic design, pendant from the centres of the arched ribs of
the roof. When lighted up at night, during the Choral Society and
Festival Concerts, the interior presents a very brilliant appearance.
Amongst the principal attractions of the hall are the portraits of city
worthies and some historical paintings. A fine work of art, Queen
Eleonora sucking the poison from her husband’s wound; and another, the
Death of Lady Jane Grey, by Martin, a native of this city; may be seen at
the west end. Large sums have been offered for them. The two oldest
portraits in the hall are Queen Anne and Prince George of Denmark. A
fine portrait of Admiral Lord Nelson, painted by Sir William Beechey, was
the last for which the illustrious “Norfolk Hero” sat after his return to
England in 1801. It is allowed to be an admirable likeness. He is
standing on the quarter deck of a man of war; the tri-coloured flag of
France is lying at his feet; and the flag of Spain lies on a cannon;
leaning against which is the sword of the Spanish Admiral, Don Xavier
Winthysen, surrendered to him on February 14th, 1797. On the hero’s hat
is the magnificent diamond Aigrette, or Plume of Triumph, and under it
the rich pelisse of sable fur, both of which were presented to him by the
Grand Seigneur. He is decorated with the red riband as Knight of the
Bath, and with the blue riband and medal suspended therefrom, which are
the Insignia of the Order of St. Ferdinand. On his breast are stars of
the most honourable Order of the Bath, of the Grand Cross, of the Order
of St. Ferdinand, and of the Imperial Order of the Crescent Suspended
from his neck by a riband, hang two gold chains, and another is affixed
to his button hole on the right side, all of which had been presented to
him, at various times, for his unparalleled naval victories.
“Such honours England to her hero paid,
And peaceful sleeps the mighty Nelson’s shade.”
This superb painting may be seen at the west end of the hall on the north
side. Gainsborough painted the portrait of Sir Harbord Harbord,
afterwards Lord Suffield, considered one of the best in the hall.
Amongst the other portraits in the building are some painted by
Gainsborough, Beechey, Heins, Smith, Bardwell, Stoppelaer, Adolphe, Opie,
Clover, Hoppner, Lawrence, and Thompson. The following is a list in
chronological order, with names of the painters.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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