King George V, Queen Mary and members of the Royal family on the steps of St Paul's Cathedral. The Archbishop of Canterbury, right, making the sign of the cross and the Bishop of London, left with state trumpeters flanking the scene. 

A study for the large painting commissioned for the Royal Exchange to commemorate the National Thanksgiving Service held at St Paul's, July 6, 1919. In his autobiography Salisbury recounts how luck provided him with this striking composition: 'It did not occur to me to go to St. Paul's before the service, so the choice of the position was left to the chance of the moment. Happily an inspiration came at the end of the beautiful service, when the royal procession, the archbishops with the representatives of all the Churches, and the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs, moved in stately dignity to the great west door… I realized the immense possibilities of this scene, and took up a position at the foot of the steps, where I had a fine view of the impressive group.'

A contemporary photograph captures the moment the King and Queen leave the cathedral and the amassed waiting crowds (RCIN 2303851.d). King George V sat for Salisbury at Buckingham Palace on 12 October 1919 and the King and Queen visited the artist's studio to see the finished painting on 22 February 1920.

For a study of the head of Dowager Queen Alexandra, see RCIN 408421. A study of Randall Thomas Davidson, Archbishop of Canterbury (1848-1930) at Lambeth Palace (Acc. No 4) and Arthur Winnington-Ingram (1858-1946), Bishop of London, 1918 in the National Portrait Gallery (NPG 5021). Sketch of the Lord Mayor of London, Sir Horace Brooks Marshall (1865-1936), his sword raised, in the Guildhall Art Gallery (no. 3660). A portrait study of Princess Mary recorded in the Salisbury Albums in the NPG (Vol. XVII, no12). A compositional study for the mural in chalk and watercolour is in the Royal Collection (RCIN 935045).

Salisbury was commissioned to paint numerous important national events and royal ceremonies, including 'The Passing of the Unknown Warrior, 1920 (RCIN 404458), 'The Marriage of Princess Mary', 1922 (RCIN 404482) and the Jubilee Thanksgiving Service, 1935 entitled 'The Heart of the Empire' (RCIN 404703).