Banqueting House

Built by architect Inigo Jones under the patronage of James I, the ceiling was painted by Peter Paul Rubens.

The hall was built for the performance of ‘Masques’ and for grand ambassadorial receptions.

Masques were a sophisticated blend of poetry, propoganda, music, dance and outlandish costume, and the King and Queen sometimes took part. At the end of the performance it became a strange tradition for the audience to upset the table laid out with food and drink.

On 30 January 1649 King Charles I was executed here.

The room was where William of Orange and his wife Mary Stuart were read the Bill of Rights in February 1689, before jointly accepting the crown.

In 1698 the rest of Whitehall palace burnt down but the Banqueting House survived.

Art

One of the highlights of the art collection at Banqueting House, besides of course the magnificent ceiling paintings by Rubens, is the painting of King Charles I (1600-1649) by Daniel Mytens (1590-1647). Also the bronze bust of James I is positioned above the door into the Banqueting Hall. James looks very regal, and is depicted wearing his crown. The bust was commissioned by Charles I to celebrate his father, and was made by the sculptor Hubert Le Sueur in 1639. When Charles sat on his throne, he could see this bust facing him across the room. Le Sueur also made the statue of Charles I on horseback, which is on Whitehall near Trafalgar Square.