Historic theatre ceiling restored

It took four years to restore all 32 panels in the grade I listed building

A four-year conservation project to restore the ceiling at Oxford's Sheldonian Theatre has been completed.

The 17th century theatre was designed for the University of Oxford by Sir Christopher Wren and based on the roofless theatres of ancient Rome.

The 32 painted ceiling panels depict the heavens, as if the circular theatre is open to the sky.

The panels were unveiled on Friday, after having their linings replaced, holes fixed and over-painting removed.

I think there will be much drawing in of breath when people see the restored ceiling for the first time Jeffrey Hackney University of Oxford

Each panel was taken down individually in 2004 and the ceiling was covered with hessian sacking while the conservation work was carried out at a different site.

The University's chairman of the curators, Jeffrey Hackney, said: "I have been very impressed with the good nature and efficiency of the team who have worked together all summer under some fairly intense pressure to get the ceiling open."

"I think there will be much drawing in of breath when people see the restored ceiling for the first time."

The panels, in oil-on-canvas, were painted by London-born court artist Robert Streater.

The allegorical programme in the painting shows, "Truth descending upon the Arts and Sciences to expel ignorance from the University".