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St Thomas' Hospital

Image credit: Coram in the care of the Foundling Museum

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Notes

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The origins of St Thomas' Hospital lie in an infirmary established to the south of London Bridge by the Augustinian Priory of St Mary Overy in 1106. It was subsequently named after St Thomas Becket who was canonised in 1173. The Hospital was re-built between 1212 and 1215 to the east of Borough High Street after a fire destroyed the original building. The Hospital was closed by Henry VIII during the Reformation but was reopened by Edward VI. Wale’s painting shows the statue of Edward VI in one of the Hospital’s courtyards. Samuel Wale is best known as a book illustrator, but was also a history painter. He was born in Yarmouth and moved to London where he trained under Francis Hayman and Hubert Gravelot at the St Martin’s Lane Academy. Wale was elected a Governor of the Foundling Hospital in 1746.

Foundling Museum

London

Title

St Thomas' Hospital

Date

c.1748

Medium

oil on canvas

Measurements

H 53 x W 53 cm

Accession number

FM57

Acquisition method

presented by the artist before 11 May 1748

Work type

Painting

Normally on display at

Foundling Museum

40 Brunswick Square, London, Greater London WC1N 1AZ England

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