London and Its Environs Described, vol. 2 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round ItAnonymous
History
London and Its Environs Described, vol. 2 (of 6): Containing an Account of Whatever is Most Remarkable for Grandeur, Elegance, Curiosity or Use, in the City and in the Country Twenty Miles Round It
Anonymous
London (England) -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800; London (England) -- Gazetteers -- Early works to 1800
On the 29th of March 1749, the Governors at a general court being
informed of the increase of benefactions to this charity, of the
number of the children, and the expediency of keeping the boys
separate from the girls, gave directions for building the other wing
of the hospital, and the whole design has been since compleated.
These wings are directly opposite to each other, and are built in a
plain but regular, substantial, and convenient manner, of brick,
with handsome piazzas. It is well suited to the purpose, and as fine
as hospitals should be. On the farthest end is placed the chapel,
which is joined to the wings by an arch on each side, and is very
elegant within. Before the hospital is a large piece of ground, on
each side whereof is a colonade of great length, which also extends
towards the gates, that are double, with a massy pier between, so
that coaches may pass and repass at the same time; and on each side
is a door to admit those on foot. The large area between this outer
gate and the hospital is adorned with grass plats, gravel walks, and
lamps erected upon handsome posts: besides which there are two
handsome gardens. The print shews the hospital in two different
views.
In erecting these buildings particular care was taken to render them
neat and substantial, without any costly decorations; but the first
wing of the hospital was scarcely inhabited, when several eminent
masters in painting, carving, and other of the polite arts, were
pleased to contribute many elegant ornaments, which are placed in
the hospital as monuments of the charity and abilities of these
great masters.
In the court room are placed four capital pictures, taken from
sacred history, the subjects of which are suitable to the place for
which they were designed.
The first, which is painted by Mr. Hayman, is taken from Exodus ii.
8, 9. “The maid went and called the child’s mother, and Pharaoh’s
daughter said unto her, Take this child away and nurse it for me,
and I will give you wages.”
The following verse is the subject of the next picture, done by Mr.
Hogarth, viz. “And the child grew up, and she brought him to
Pharaoh’s daughter, and he became her son, and she called his name
Moses.”
The third picture is the history of Ishmael, painted by Mr.
Highmore, the subject of which is taken from Gen. xxi. 17. “And the
angel of the Lord called to Hagar out of heaven, and said to her,
What aileth thee, Hagar? Fear not, for God hath heard the voice of
the lad where he is.”
The fourth picture is painted by Mr. Wills, and is taken from Luke
xviii. 16. “Jesus said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and
forbid them not, for of such is the kingdom of heaven.”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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