Four of Cambridge鈥檚 most famous figures have been writ large by the illustrator Quentin Blake in an epic work of art marking the 探花直播鈥檚 800th anniversary.

A giant mural featuring Blake鈥檚 instantly recognisable drawings - measuring more than 26 feet high and 100 feet long - has been installed along King鈥檚 Parade, at the front of King鈥檚 College.

Four larger than life figures from Cambridge鈥檚 past are depicted in Blake鈥檚 playful signature style, familiar from dozens of children鈥檚 books. An irritable-looking Henry VIII listens to the choir of King鈥檚 College Chapel, Charles Darwin sits reading on top of a giant Galapagos tortoise, Isaac Newton peers through a prism and a blind John Milton completes his epic retelling of the Fall of Man, Paradise Lost.

探花直播drawings are taken from Cambridge 800: An Informal Panorama, which was produced by Blake earlier this year. 探花直播complete panorama, made up of 15 original drawings, was unveiled in September of this year and is currently the centrepiece of the Art Walk at Addenbrooke鈥檚 Hospital.

探花直播pictures are faithful enlargements of pen-and-ink watercolour drawings. Quentin Blake, who is a graduate of Downing College, said: 鈥淭o me, this is a way of saying thank-you for my years as an undergraduate and the honorary degree that the 探花直播 also gave me. I feel very privileged to have been given this opportunity to contribute to these 800th anniversary celebrations.鈥

探花直播art covers scaffolding along the front of King鈥檚, which was erected to complete essential restoration works on the Wilkins screen wall along King鈥檚 Parade.

探花直播mural will be on display through the rest of the anniversary year, which will wind up with a spectacular finale event in January 2010. 探花直播full set of Blake鈥檚 drawings may be viewed online via the 800th anniversary website, linked above right.

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