Portrait of James Thornhill

James Thornhill Paintings: The 18 Most Famous, Through a Gallery's Eye

Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 19 works by James Thornhill in our catalogue

In short

To the gallery's eye, James Thornhill's most famous painting is The Blinding of Elymas (1729), whose original hangs in the Royal Academy of Arts, London. John Worley, 1624-1721 (1708) and Thetis Accepting the Shield of Achilles from Vulcan (1710) complete the trio every eye recognises. Of the 19 works by James Thornhill in our catalog, the gallery presents the 18 most famous below, each original with its year, its museum and what makes it unique.

1675 – 1734, Melcombe Regis Most works: Yale Center for British Art
The Blinding of Elymas (1729) by James Thornhill1. The Blinding of Elymas 1729 John Worley, 1624-1721 (1708) by James Thornhill2. John Worley, 1624-1721 1708 Thetis Accepting the Shield of Achilles from Vulcan (1710) by James Thornhill3. Thetis Accepting the Shield of Achilles from Vulcan 1710

The gallery's top 10 James Thornhill paintings

1
The Blinding of Elymas (1729) by James Thornhill

The Blinding of Elymas

1729 · Oil On Canvas · Royal Academy of Arts, London

Sir James Thornhill’s “The Blinding of Elymas” is not merely a depiction of a biblical scene; it's a meticulously crafted embodiment of 18th-century artistic ambition, religious conviction, and the burgeoning fascination with classical ideals. Completed in 1729, this monumental oil on canvas – nearly four and a half meters wide – stands as one of the most significant works produced during Thornhill’s prolific career, a period defined by his dedication…

The story behind this original

James Thornhill paintings, ranked 11 to 18

11Sketch for 'The Last Supper,' St. Mary's, Weymouth (1719) by James ThornhillSketch for 'The Last Supper,' St. Mary's, Weymouth1719 · Yale Center for British Art 12The Adoration of the Magi (1724) by James ThornhillThe Adoration of the Magi1724 · Wimpole Hall 13General Edward Wolfe (1685-1759) (1730) by James ThornhillGeneral Edward Wolfe (1685-1759)1730 · Quebec House 14Speaker Arthur Onslow calling upon Sir Robert Walpole to speak in the House of Commons (1730) by James ThornhillSpeaker Arthur Onslow calling upon Sir Robert Walpole to speak in the House of Commons1730 · Clandon Park 15Sir Isaac Newton (1709) by James ThornhillSir Isaac Newton1709 · Woolsthorpe Manor 16An Allegory of Apollo and Minerva as Wisdom and the Arts by James ThornhillAn Allegory of Apollo and Minerva as Wisdom and the ArtsNational Maritime Museum 17Sir James Thornhill by James ThornhillSir James ThornhillNational Portrait Gallery 18Self-portrait by James ThornhillSelf-portrait

The museums that keep James Thornhill's originals

The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by James Thornhill Paintings from this list
Yale Center for British Art, New HavenYale Center for British Art New Haven 4 St. Paul before Agrippa, Jacob's Dream, A Sketch of Gratitude Crowned by Peace, with Other Allegorical Figures of Industry, Fame and Plenty
National Maritime Museum, LondonNational Maritime Museum London 2 John Worley, 1624-1721, An Allegory of Apollo and Minerva as Wisdom and the Arts
Woolsthorpe Manor, LincolnWoolsthorpe Manor Lincoln 2 Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727), Sir Isaac Newton
Royal Academy of Arts, LondonRoyal Academy of Arts London 1 The Blinding of Elymas
Royal Collection, LondonRoyal Collection London 1 Panel for a Royal State Coach: Britannia Receiving Homage from the Continents.
Wimpole HallWimpole Hall 1 The Adoration of the Magi
Quebec House, WesterhamQuebec House Westerham 1 General Edward Wolfe (1685-1759)
Clandon ParkClandon Park 1 Speaker Arthur Onslow calling upon Sir Robert Walpole to speak in the House of Commons

James Thornhill, one signature painting per decade

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.

James Thornhill's paintings: the gallery answers

Which James Thornhill painting is the most famous of all?Reveal the answer

The Blinding of Elymas (1729), Royal Academy of Arts, London. John Worley, 1624-1721 (1708) and Thetis Accepting the Shield of Achilles from Vulcan (1710) come next.

How old was James Thornhill on completing The Blinding of Elymas?Reveal the answer

54 years old: The Blinding of Elymas dates from 1729, and James Thornhill was born in 1675.

Which are James Thornhill's top 10 paintings?Reveal the answer

The Blinding of Elymas, John Worley, 1624-1721, Thetis Accepting the Shield of Achilles from Vulcan, The Apotheosis of Romulus: Sketch for a Ceiling Decoration, Possibly for Hewell Grange, Worcestershire, St. Paul before Agrippa, Jacob's Dream, Sir Isaac Newton (1642 - 1727), Psyche obtaining the Jar of Forgetfulness from Pluto in Hades (modello for a mural), Panel for a Royal State Coach: Britannia Receiving Homage from the Continents. and A Sketch of Gratitude Crowned by Peace, with Other Allegorical Figures of Industry, Fame and Plenty. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.

How many works did James Thornhill create?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 19 works by James Thornhill, dated from 1705 to 1730.

Where do James Thornhill's most famous originals hang?Reveal the answer

Mostly in Yale Center for British Art (New Haven), National Maritime Museum (London) and Woolsthorpe Manor (Lincoln). The museum table above lists them all.

When did James Thornhill create the most famous paintings?Reveal the answer

In 1710s: 8 of the 18 works on this page were made then, Thetis Accepting the Shield of Achilles from Vulcan among them.

Which are James Thornhill's earliest and latest famous works?Reveal the answer

On this page, the earliest is Jacob's Dream (1705) and the latest General Edward Wolfe (1685-1759) (1730).

Which James Thornhill originals does the Yale Center for British Art hold?Reveal the answer

St. Paul before Agrippa, Jacob's Dream and A Sketch of Gratitude Crowned by Peace, with Other Allegorical Figures of Industry, Fame and Plenty: the Yale Center for British Art, New Haven holds 4 of the works on this page.

James Thornhill: the artist

early life and apprenticeship

sir james thornhill, a renowned english painter, was born in melcombe regis, dorset, in 1675. he was the son of walter thornhill of wareham and mary, eldest daughter of colonel william sydenham, governor of weymouth. in 1689, thornhill was apprenticed to thomas highmore, a specialist in non-figurative decorative painting.

artistic career

thornhill's artistic career spanned over four decades, during which he worked on numerous large-scale schemes of murals, including the "painted hall" at the royal hospital, greenwich. he also decorated palace interiors with large-scale compositions, featuring figures in idealized and rhetorical postures.
  • sir james thornhill's work on the dome of st paul's cathedral (1716-19) showcases his mastery of grisaille, depicting episodes from the life of st. paul.
  • his murals in great houses often related to topical events, as seen through the eyes of his mainly whig patrons, such as the continuous wall and ceiling painting of the sabine room at chatsworth.
  • thornhill's last major commission was to paint the chapel at wimpole hall, which he started in 1713 and completed by 1724.

notable artworks and collections

some of thornhill's notable artworks can be found in various museums and collections, including:

legacy and influence

thornhill's legacy as a master of italian baroque tradition continues to inspire artists and art enthusiasts alike. his work can be seen in various museums and collections, including the OriginalUniqueArt.com, which offers handmade oil paintings reproductions and print on canvas from famous artists around the world. more about sir james thornhill... view more artworks by sir james thornhill at OriginalUniqueArt.com
All 19 works by James Thornhill →