Hogarth murals at St Bartholomew’s open after £9.5m restoration

Editor

October 6, 2025
2 min read

Hogarth murals at St Bartholomew’s open after £9.5m restoration

After a £9.5m restoration, the Hogarth murals at St Bartholomew’s Hospital are open to the public, bringing visitors within a few feet of William Hogarth’s The Pool of Bethesda and The Good Samaritan on the Hogarth Stair.

The canvases hang within the Grade I listed North Wing, part of architect James Gibbs’s eighteenth-century redesign. Supervised access protects the paintings and the surrounding interiors, including the revived Great Hall.

Professor Charles Knight, chief executive of St Bartholomew’s, said the renewal

“stands as a lasting legacy of our 900th anniversary, connecting centuries of medical excellence with our rich heritage.”

Will Palin, who led the conservation, praised the craft behind the work. “Leading craftspeople from across the country have brought this unique building and its spectacular interiors back to life. The hall has recaptured its beauty and dignity and will inspire visitors, host events and support the wellbeing of patients and staff.”

The Pool of Bethesda (1736) by William Hogarth, one of two monumental murals on the Hogarth Stair at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in the Square Mile, now viewable after the North Wing restoration.

Hogarth took on the staircase for no fee in the 1730s. He wanted the commission to show that an English painter could match the grand history style then associated with imported talent. The Pool of Bethesda centres on Christ healing the sick. The Good Samaritan turns a familiar parable into a dramatic rescue on the stair.

The project has also conserved the Great Hall’s gilded ceiling by Jean Baptiste St Michell, Portland stonework, the historic gatehouse and the statue of Henry VIII at the entrance. Together they make one of the Square Mile’s most atmospheric interiors.

Practical details on opening times and booking are set out on the visitor page. Staff will manage numbers to protect the space.

For more features exploring the City of London’s history and cultural heritage, follow EyeOnLondon City for insightful storytelling you can trust.

[Image Credit | Bart’s Heritage]

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About Author

Editor

Emma Trehane founded EyeOnLondon in 2021 and leads the publication as it continues to grow as a digital platform covering the arts, culture and ideas shaping London. With a background in the Humanities, Communications and Media, she moved into the city’s literary and cultural world before working in editing and media consultancy. Through EyeOnLondon she brings together writers, critics and specialists who share a curiosity about London and the wider world around it.