After remaining virtually hidden from public view for nearly 300 years, two masterpiece murals by renowned British painter William Hogarth have finally opened to the general public for the first time. The North Wing at St. Bartholomew's Hospital in London, which houses "The Pool of Bethesda" and "The Good Samaritan," has reopened following an extensive $12 million restoration project that took five years to complete.
The two large-scale biblical murals, featuring towering 7-foot-high figures, were originally painted by the famous satirist in the 1730s when he was establishing himself as one of Britain's most important artists. Will Palin, chief executive of the Barts Heritage charity, expressed his excitement about making this significant cultural treasure accessible to art enthusiasts worldwide. "They've never been publicly accessible before," Palin explained. "You could see them on special tours and catch little glimpses, but the doors have never been thrown open to the public like we've done. We want to create a new must-see visitor attraction in the city."
The story behind these remarkable works reveals Hogarth's passionate dedication to supporting English artists and his deep personal connection to the hospital. Born in 1697 in Bartholomew Close, just a stone's throw from Britain's oldest hospital, Hogarth grew up near the institution that has been providing free healthcare for nearly 900 years. When he discovered that Italian painter Jacopo Amigoni was set to receive the prestigious commission to paint the hospital's staircase, Hogarth became furious and decided to take action.
Despite never having worked on such a monumental scale before, Hogarth boldly offered his services completely free of charge, driven by his belief that English painters deserved support and that such an important commission should go to a native artist. "Amigoni was a safe pair of hands, a Venetian painter, but Hogarth was born literally a stone's throw from the hospital," Palin noted. "He knew the hospital well and almost felt an ownership of this project. He also felt that English painters needed to be supported, and this very important commission should go to a native painter. He offered his services for free, and I think it was probably the free aspect that appealed to the government most."
The North Wing itself was constructed in 1732 specifically to help operate the hospital and generate funding for its charitable mission, but it gradually fell into decline over the centuries as the hospital focused its resources on clinical areas. The building features a magnificent Great Hall and an ornate staircase decorated with Hogarth's extraordinary artwork. These two murals represent unique outliers in Hogarth's extensive body of work, as he never again painted on such a massive scale, and they were specifically designed to inspire visitors who might then be moved to donate to the hospital's cause.
Hogarth's paintings demonstrate his remarkable ability to create sympathetic portraits of people suffering from disease and injury, reflecting the hospital's humanitarian mission. "The Pool of Bethesda" powerfully depicts a man who had been unable to walk for years being miraculously healed by Jesus, while "The Good Samaritan" illustrates another biblical tale of compassion and care for the afflicted.
The ambitious restoration project required careful planning, extensive fundraising, and meticulous execution over five years. The initiative received crucial support from a core grant of $6.9 million from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, along with additional funding from various sources. A highly skilled team of craftspeople was assembled to tackle the complex restoration work, including specialized painting conservators, expert gilders, ironwork specialists, and experienced roofers with specific expertise in working on historic buildings.
The restoration process involved sophisticated cleaning and conservation techniques to address serious structural issues caused by the deteriorating wooden stretcher framework behind the original canvases. The stair hall itself underwent extensive restoration work, including comprehensive repairs and strengthening of the historic timber staircase and careful conservation of an original 18th-century chandelier that had witnessed centuries of hospital life.
Beyond the famous Hogarth murals, the restoration project encompassed numerous other significant historical features throughout the North Wing. An elaborate banquet room was carefully restored to its former glory, along with a stunning baroque gatehouse, a statue of King Henry VIII, and intricate Portland stonework that required specialized conservation techniques. Perhaps most impressively, the ornate gilded ceiling of the Great Hall, originally designed by master plasterer Jean Baptiste St. Michell in what remains his only known work in England, was painstakingly restored to its original brilliance.
Looking ahead, the restored North Wing will serve multiple cultural purposes that honor both its artistic heritage and its continuing role in London's cultural landscape. The magnificent Great Hall will function as a dynamic cultural venue, hosting a diverse program of events throughout the year that will bring new life to this historic space. Meanwhile, the priceless Hogarth works will be made available for public viewing twice weekly, finally allowing art lovers and history enthusiasts to experience these masterpieces that have remained hidden for three centuries.
