07/08/2025
Last week, our Heritage Consultants had the privilege of stepping inside the extraordinary Painted Room at the Grade I listed Spencer House — the jewel in the crown of what is widely considered London’s finest surviving eighteenth-century townhouse.
Designed by James ‘Athenian’ Stuart in 1759 and largely completed by 1765, the Painted Room is among the earliest complete Neo-Classical interiors in Europe. Its richly evocative scheme features frescoes of garlands, classical urns, and cherubs set against a blue-green ground, which frame exquisitely painted panels depicting scenes with a theme of love and marriage.
Over the centuries, the frescoes have undergone multiple phases of restoration and overpainting — particularly following significant damage sustained during the Second World War. Today, one of these historic repairs is showing signs of deterioration, and in response, we’re launching an exciting investigative project, working closely with a historic paint specialist to analyse the decorative layers. Our aim is to accurately determine the age and composition of different elements of the scheme to help guide its future conservation and ensure this remarkable space continues to inspire for generations to come.
