Signed Copy: John Vanbrugh The Drama of Architecture by Charles Saumarez Smith

Exclusive copy signed by Charles Saumarez Smith, former CE of the Royal Academy, Director of the National Gallery and National Portrait Gallery, and curator of the exhibition Vanbrugh: The Drama of Architecture at Sir John Soane's Museum. Sir John Vanbrugh was one of Britain’s 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 Vanbrugh's letters to bring to life his ideas, beliefs, friendships and buildings, as well as providing insight into his professional practice and working relationships. Charles Saumarez Smith paints a fascinating portrait of a man whose architecture was shaped by his personality. The book also explores Vanbrugh's 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. Signed by the author. Publisher: Lund Humphries Publishers Ltd. Hardback, 272pp Dimensions: 250 x 170 x 30 mm.