The architect who built like a playwright: Vanbrugh at Soane's Museum

"John Vanbrugh was at times a theatre producer, a suspected spy, and a soldier, and later became a self-taught architect and, thanks to well-placed contacts, a very successful one. His legacy is some of the grandest stately homes in the country, including Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard, where he cast his theatrical background into stone."

"The exhibition opens with Blenheim Palace, but maybe not as people usually think of it, as Soane looked beyond the Baroque decoration and at the buildings' design, drawing them in silhouette to show their symmetry. It's also a view that few see in real life unless they happen to be there at sunrise."

"What the exhibition has managed to do is put on display some of the early drawings of what the stately home was expected to look like, in a room with later drawings of what was actually built. With two grand houses dealt with, the rest of the exhibition looks at no less impressive, but physically smaller buildings."

John Vanbrugh was a multifaceted figure who worked as a theatre producer, soldier, and suspected spy before becoming a self-taught architect. His theatrical background influenced his architectural designs, creating some of England's grandest stately homes including Blenheim Palace and Castle Howard. The exhibition at Sir John Soane's home displays Vanbrugh's works through various drawings and designs, including silhouettes of Blenheim Palace showing its symmetry and early sketches of Castle Howard. The exhibition also features his smaller but equally impressive buildings such as Vanbrugh House in Greenwich, King's Weston in Bristol, and Claremont House in Surrey, showcasing his innovative design approaches for wealthy clients.

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