Sir John Vanbrugh was an English architect and dramatist of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries, celebrated as one of the leading figures of English Baroque architecture. Before turning to building he had a colourful career as a soldier and a successful playwright, writing witty Restoration comedies such as The Relapse and The Provoked Wife.
With little formal training, Vanbrugh designed Castle Howard in Yorkshire for the Earl of Carlisle, and went on to design Blenheim Palace in Oxfordshire for the Duke of Marlborough. In both projects he worked closely with Nicholas Hawksmoor, who brought technical experience gained in the office of Sir Christopher Wren. Vanbrugh's buildings are known for their massive scale, dramatic silhouettes, bold grouping of masses and theatrical sense of movement. Other notable works include Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland and Grimsthorpe Castle in Lincolnshire, where he remodelled the north front. His style fell from favour with the rise of Palladianism, but later critics recognised its power and originality. For students of country house interiors and garden design, Vanbrugh remains essential to understanding the grandeur of early Georgian England.
