Banqueting House, Whitehall
Where once there was a sprawling palace, there are now only a few surviving parts remaining after fire largely destroyed the Palace of Whitehall in 1698. The Banqueting House, opposite what is now Horse Guards, is by far the largest surviving part of that Palace, once the residence of monarchs.
Designed by Inigo Jones, the painted ceiling by Sir Peter Paul Rubens is the most prominent interior feature. The building itself is best known as the scene of King Charles I’s execution on 30th January 1649.
There’s an excellent post by “Look Up London” with in depth historical detail.
If you like this, have a look at my pictures from The Painted Hall in Greenwich.
The Rubens Ceiling
Most ceiling pictures were taken with the camera lying on its back and controlled remotely over Wi-Fi by a mobile phone app. Sunday 19th May was the last public open day before the Banqueting House undergoes a conservation program stretching into 2025.
360 Virtual Tour of The Banqueting House
Look up and around, just like you use Google Street View.
The Rubens Painted Ceiling Panels
Individuals panels of Ruben’s ceiling are crammed full of detail. More details about the paintings can be found on the Historic Royal Palaces website.
Same View of the Banqueting House Interior, Different Lenses
Different lenses can completely change a view.
17mm Wide Angle Lens
Tilt/Shift Lens
