The Queen’s Staircase at Hampton Court Palace is a Baroque masterpiece showcasing the transformation of the palace during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Designed by Christopher Wren (1632–1723), the staircase was part of a grand modernisation project initiated by Queen Mary II (1662–1694) and King William III (1650–1702). The ironwork balustrade was crafted by Jean Tijou, a renowned French Huguenot blacksmith active in the late 17th century, while the decorative paintings were created by Antonio Verrio (c. 1636–1707), an Italian artist celebrated for his complex murals. The project continued after Queen Mary died in 1694, with further contributions made during the reign of Queen Anne (1665–1714).
Verrio’s murals on the Queen’s Staircase fuse classical myths with royal propaganda. They present the monarchy as divinely ordained and symbolise power, authority, and continuity. The murals reinforce the idea of a stable, virtuous monarchy within a European artistic tradition by combining allegorical and mythological imagery.