Art Appreciation: The Architecture of Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor

As the architecture of the Renaissance in Italy flourished, and led down divergent pathways to the works of Palladio and to the Baroque style, we will see how its influence was felt in England in the extraordinary achievements of Christopher Wren, and how his work led on to the "English Baroque" of John Vanbrugh and Nicholas Hawksmoor.

As the pre-eminent English architect of his time, we will examine how Wren developed his ideas, drawing on the publications of Renaissance architects, his visit to Paris in 1665, and the example of earlier English architecture – most notably the work of Inigo Jones in the reigns of James I and Charles I.

We will examine Wren’s work in building anew the City churches and St Paul’s cathedral, his projects for the universities of Oxford and Cambridge and his royal works including Hampton Court and Greenwich.

We will see how the career of Hawksmoor expanded from his role as the leading assistant to Wren to the production of extraordinary buildings in his own right. His projects included his intriguing church designs for London, and secular projects including those for the universities. We aim to explain will why much of this work is described as the “English Baroque”.