John Vanbrugh

The Drama of Architecture

By: Charles Saumarez Smith

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Hardcover | 2 March 2026

At a Glance

Hardcover
272 Pages

Dimensions(cm)
18.0 x 25.8 x 3.1

Hardcover

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Sir John Vanbrugh was one of Britains greatest architects and the designer of some of the most important and best beloved English country houses, including Castle Howard and Blenheim Palace. This beautifully illustrated biography draws on close study of Vanbrughs letters to bring to life his ideas, beliefs, friendships and buildings, as well as providing insight into his professional practice and working relationships. Vanbrugh was, by the standards of architects of the time, a worldly figure, friend and ally of the great, with a strong sense of the imaginative characteristics of architecture, its power of evocation, and the emotional impact of a buildings massing, particularly when compared to the more disciplined and scholarly work of his contemporaries Sir Christopher Wren and Nicholas Hawksmoor.

Charles Saumarez Smith paints a fascinating portrait of a man whose architecture was shaped by his personality. The book also explores Vanbrughs activities as a playwright and theatre manager, his circle of friends, his place in 18th-century society, and, in a final section, his influence on later architects from Robert Adam to Robert Venturi and Denise Scott Brown.

Industry Reviews

The Building of Castle Howard first introduced us to Charless work, a building that Bob (Venturi) and I had admired and learned from. Im thrilled that he has followed this up with this comprehensive look at Vanbrugh from multiple angles - architect, playwright, and of course his delicious quarrel with the Duchess of Marlborough at Blenheim. - Denise Scott Brown

A magnificent tribute to Britains architect of magnificence. John Vanbrugh was Englands answer to the masters of the Italian baroque. He has found a fitting champion. - Sir Simon Jenkins

This book presents a fresh look at one of the most important and enduring architects of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries discussing the totality of his output and drawing out the cross-currents between all the varied facets of an extraordinary life. - Elizabeth McKellar, President, Society of Architectural Historians (GB)

This reads very well and is a superb introduction to Vanbrugh and his period as well as a major contribution to scholarship. - Professor Jules Lubbock, University of Essex

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