Moss delivers the ultimate in ‘High Art’ 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 (part of a global group, with facilities in St Neots) was commissioned to print and install a striking replica.

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 210 sq m 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 as not to disrupt visitors during the day.

“This was one of the most technically challenging large format printing projects we’ve delivered to date,” said Mike Hamling, Group Account Director at Moss. “From colour matching the original fresco to printing and coordinating the construction of such a large artwork at height within a heritage site, it was a real team effort across design, print, logistics and build.”

The artwork was printed on flame-retardant PVC mesh using Moss’s Durst 512R to ensure the replica’s colour accuracy and durability. Moss produced the piece in multiple large format printing sections, which were stitched together to create the replica masterpiece.

A four-man team worked over four consecutive nights to build the scaffold frame. Then, in a single night, a six-man crew hung the banner, abseiling and working upside down from the suspended platform to complete the installation.

Careful planning and precision execution were central to the project and continue Moss’ longstanding relationship with Blenheim Palace, which includes recent work wrapping the Flagstaff Tower, providing wayfinding and printing for iconic exhibitions and displays.

Once the restoration is complete, the printed ceiling will be returned to Moss and recycled through the company’s established materials take-back scheme, minimising waste.

“At Moss, we’re committed to sustainable practices, even for bespoke, large format printing projects like this one,” said Hamling. “It’s a privilege to once again work with a site like Blenheim Palace, and I’m proud that we are helping preserve the visitor experience during such an important restoration.”

Carmen Alvarez, Collections and Conservation Manager at Blenheim Palace said: “Once again we are delighted with the work the team at Moss has delivered for this essential restoration project. The complexity of the install made this a real challenge, yet the impact of their work is clear will ensure visitors to the Great Hall continue to see this iconic masterpiece.”