Large-format printing expert Moss has brought history to life in breathtaking fashion, completing one of its most ambitious and technically demanding projects to date, with the upside down installation of a stunning replica of the iconic ceiling fresco in the Great Hall at Blenheim Palace. The Great Hall ceiling painting by Sir James Thornhill describes the 1st Duke of Marlborough kneeling to Britannia, proffering a plan of his victory at Blenheim and is a centrepiece of one of Britain’s most iconic stately homes. The masterpiece had already suffered from hairline cracks due to structural movement and recent rainwater damage and mould have necessitated its urgent restoration.
To ensure visitors continued to enjoy the artwork while the essential conservation takes place, Moss was commissioned by Blenheim Palace to print and install a striking replica. However, access to the ceiling was only possible via a massive suspended internal scaffold, delicately supported by window apertures.The replica hangs underneath the suspended scaffold platform giving visitors a rare, up-close view of the painting’s intricate details. With no scissor lifts allowed inside the UNESCO World Heritage site, the Moss team faced a unique challenge: how to recreate and install a 210sqm replica banner of the painting on the underside of the scaffold for visitor viewing from mid-air. To add to the complexity of the work, the construction could only be done at night, so not to disrupt visitors during the day.
