Painting of the view from One Tree Hill by John Feary, c.1779
Yale Center for British Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

A changing treescape

For centuries, artists have flocked to Greenwich Park armed with sketchbooks, palettes and canvases. 

From celebrated international artists to local amateurs – generations of creative people have found inspiration here.

There are thousands of surviving images of the park - from oil paintings and watercolours to sketches and etchings. Each one represents an artist’s unique response to this special place.

Some of these works are grand oil paintings of iconic views, destined for the walls of stately homes or art galleries. Others are quick sketches of quiet corners, representing a fleeting flash of inspiration. A few were reproduced as souvenirs or printed in travel guides and magazines.

What all of these pictures have in common are the trees of Greenwich Park. Whether they are a focal point or a background detail, they stand proudly in all of these images – sometimes providing shade or shelter, other times framing a famous view.

These images allow us to track the ways in which the treescape of the park has changed since the seventeenth century. Explore our gallery to travel through time and see for yourself!

1620

Painting of Greenwich Park from the south-east showing the Park and Tudor palace, c.1620
Royal Museums Greenwich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Painting of Greenwich Park from the south-east showing the Park and Tudor palace, c.1620 [Royal Museums Greenwich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

1680

Painting of Greenwich Park, with London in the distance, c.1680
Yale Center for British Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Greenwich, with London in the distance, c.1680 [Yale Center for British Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

1690

Painting of London and the Thames from One Tree Hill, c.1690
Jan Griffier I, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
London and the River Thames from One Tree Hill, Greenwich Park, by Jan Griffier, the Elder c.1690 [Jan Griffier I, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

1696

Painting of The Royal Observatory viewed from Crooms Hill, c.1696
Royal Museums Greenwich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
The Royal Observatory from Crooms Hill, c.1696 [Royal Museums Greenwich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

1720

Painting of London from Greenwich Park by Peter Tillemans, c.1720
Peter Tillemans, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
London from Greenwich Park, by Peter Tillemans c.1720 [Peter Tillemans, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

1730

Painted view of Greenwich and the River Thames from Greenwich Park, c.1730
Royal Museums Greenwich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
View of Greenwich and the River Thames from Greenwich Park, c.1730 [Royal Museums Greenwich, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

1779

Painting of One Tree Hill, with London in the distance by John Feary, c.1779
Yale Center for British Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
One Tree Hill Greenwich, with London in the Distance by John Feary, c.1779 [Yale Center for British Art, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

1780

Black and white picture of Vanbrugh Castle, Greenwich
Samuel Hieronymus Grimm, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
Vanbrugh Castle, Greenwich by Samuel Hieronymus Grimm, c.1780 [Samuel Hieronymus Grimm, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons]

1795

Painted view from Greenwich Park by William Pengree Sherlock, c.1795
William Pengree Sherlock, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
View from Greenwich Park by William Pengree Sherlock, c.1795 [William Pengree Sherlock, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons]

1796

Painted view of London from Greenwich Park, c.1796
Joseph Constantine Stadler, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
View of London from Greenwich Park by Joseph Constantine Stadler, c.1796 [Joseph Constantine Stadler, CC0, via Wikimedia Commons]

1809

Painting of London from Greenwich Park by Joseph Mallord Turner, c.1809
J. M. W. Turner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
London from Greenwich Park by Joseph Mallord William Turner, c.1809 [J. M. W. Turner, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

1830

View from Greenwich Park by William Westall, c.1830
British Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
View from Greenwich Park by William Westall, c.1830 [British Museum, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

1833

Painting of London from Greenwich Park by H. Mandeville, 1833
Chevanne; H. Mandeville; Read and Co; Read, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
London from Greenwich Park by H. Mandeville, 1833 [Chevanne; H. Mandeville; Read and Co; Read, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]

1900

Pencil sketch of Greenwich Park by Francis Nicholson, c.1900
Francis Nicholson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Greenwich Park by Francis Nicholson, c.1900 [Francis Nicholson, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons]
Share
Share this page on facebook Share this page on twitter Share this page on whatsapp Copy page URL to clipboard Copied