2009 RESTORATION THEATRE ROYAL
PROSCENIUM PAINTINGS
The early nineteenth century painting of “Old Timber Toes” bridge (built 1793) used to fill the six panels over the proscenium arch is owned by Sir Robert Goff and Lady Goff, who kindly gave permission for its reproduction. The architects had the task of finding a suitable artwork and this was seen in the book ” A history of Waterford and its mayors from the 12th to the 20th Century” and traced to the Goff family. After scanning a high resolution transparency of the painting computer processing was used to enlarge it from its original size of about 60cm x 40cm up to 12m x 3m – 20 times bigger. The largest high resolution digital printer in Ireland was used to produce the final image in one piece.
The bridge was engineered by Lemuel Cox, an American. It survived until 1911 when it was replaced by a reinforced concrete bridge. It was a toll bridge and cost £14,000 to build. Waterford was a prosperous city as indicated by the warehouses, ships, spires and the Davis Strangman Brewery (extreme right) This reproduction shows the entire painting, you can now see the lower foreground lands of Bilberry (right) and Sallypark (Left).
The old painting has been carefully removed by experts, it is in poor condition from age and from years of exposure to tobacco smoke. It is proposed to restore and reinstate it in the future when funds are available. The artist(s) are unknown, possibly created by a stage set painter and contemporaneous with the construction of the present theatre of 1876.
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