The selected points

The following are the ten points that I have decided to use. In selecting tracking points I have tried to:

1. Spread them out across the mural.
2. Pick details that will hopefully track well.
3. Pick interesting points that give a varied overview of the work.

Introduction: This is an augmented reality display that will tell you about Rex Whistler's impressive mural, widely considered to be his masterpiece. Using the tablet you are now holding, you can discover more about the mural by finding hidden information points (there are ten augmented information points to find). To use the display; press the start button, and hold the tablet about a meter from the mural. When you find a hidden information point, relevant information will be displayed on the screen.

Point 1 (Poseidon walking out of the painting / tracking point -  Poseidon's crown): The wet footprints are said to be those of Poseidon (god of the sea) who has walked into the house, leaving his trident and crown behind. Have you noticed the coat of arms that decorate the wall? The Paget crest is on the left (for Lord Anglesey), and the Manners crest is on the right (for Lady Anglesey). It is said that Rex found the net the hardest thing to paint, repainting it seven times before he was happy with it.

Point 2 (Architecture / tracking point -  St. Peter's Basilica ) Rex had an extraordinary visual memory, which can be seen in the detail of the well known buildings he has included, The town is a montage of imaginary and real architecture from Rome and London, including; Trajan's Column, St. Peter's Basilica, Admiralty Arch, and St Martin in the Fields (church), how many of them can you identify? You may have noticed the family's crest on the flag flying above the arch, and the mock Latin inscription that declares Rex as the creator of the work.

Point 3 (Dogs / tracking point - dogs, book): Here the dogs of the family also make an appearance. The French Bulldog 'Cheeky' shown in her pearl necklace, is said to have been incredibly fussy to the point where she would only eat the best cuts of British beef. Rex's humor can be seen in the book and glasses he has painted in for Lady Anglesey, as she was always losing them. However the still lit cigerett (which Rex has just put down) strikes a more poininant note, as Rex was killed on his first day of action during World War Two, and so never returned to add the finishing touches that he had promised.

Point 4 (Island / tracking point - island): The small fortified island in the centre of the beautiful seascape was not included in the original design. The central structure is based on Windsor Castle, however Rex added the demolished wall to reflect that the house of Windsor had been fractured with the abdication of Edward VIII, giving up his throne for the American Wallis Simpson. If you look closely you may be able to see that someone has hung out their washing.

Point 5 (Rowing boat / tracking point - boat): You may have noticed that the man rowing the boat only has one oar, this may be because he has left the other one on shore (as can be seen in the centre of the mural). The man is said to be Captain Lilly who taught the children of the family to row. As you walk from one end of the mural to the other you may notice that the boat seems to change direction (this is also true of the paving lines by the oar, which always seem to face you. Rex was a master of trompe l'oeil (meaning to deceive the eye). The effects were achieved by using multiple perspectives, in total the mural is said to have over forty vanishing points (whereas a normal painting might only have a few). 

Point 6 (Right town / tracking point - town and boats): The left side of the mural changed drastically from Rex's original proposal, with the detailed town replacing a simple lighthouse that was initially intended. Though smaller than the town on the left, Rex's cleaver use of perspective makes it look larger from this position. The town is a montage of buildings from places Rex had visited, including; an Austrian church, the government building from Bonn Germany, and Totnes high street in Devon. In the bay the family can be seen on a gondola except for Caroline who is in a small sailing boat with a red sail. Rex included a number of red objects in the mural (a symbol of his passion for Caroline), how many have you seen?

Point 7 (The replacement tower / tracking point - the tower): It is said that Lord Anglesey felt that there were too many boats in the painting, and that Rex worked through the night to replace a sailing ship (the masts of which can still be seen faintly in the clouds) with the tower you now see. When asked why he had included scaffolding, Rex is said to have remarked that Lord Anglesey would probably change his mind again, and the tower would have to be taken down. You may have noticed the pan on the small roof, this may be a visual pun on pantiles (a type of interlocking ceramic tile used in the roof).

Point 8 (Brighton / tracking point - ): As the town recedes into the distance the building style become less Italianate, the building you are now looking at are said to be based on Regents Square in Brighton (an area the artist knew well). Try and find the funfair that Rex put for the children. Behind the town you can see the imposing hills of Snowdonia, reflecting the view of the mountains that can be seen through the windows (on a clear day). Have you noticed Harlech Castle high up in the hills?

Point 9 (People / tracking point - boy with fishing rod) The small boy fishing depicts the current Lord Anglesey as a boy. If you look closely you may notice that there is no line on his rod, it is said that Rex remarked that he did not require one, as he never caught anything.Other members of the family are also depicted in various guises, can you see the statue of the 6th Marquis riding a horse? When the painting was commissioned in 1936 (by the 6th Marquis) it was initially intended to be a battle scene, however Rex was given permission to paint the impressive mural you now see, as long as he included interesting details that would spark dinner conversation, no doubt they did.

Point 10 (The artist sweeping up rose petals / tracking point - Rex's self portrait): In this self-portrait Rex has shown himself as gardener, sweeping up rose petals (a symbol or unrequited love). His choice of costume may be to convey that he is of a lower class than Caroline (the oldest daughter of the 6th Marquis) with whom he had fallen in love. The Italianate buildings in the background are that of Portmeirion, if you look closely you will see a man looking up at a window reminiscent of Romeo and Juliet (could this be Rex and Caroline?), and a boy urinating against a wall.