Nicholas Hawksmoor, Baroque Architect
Nicholas Hawksmoor was a British architect who was one of the primary forces involved in the early Baroque architectural movement. Hawksmoor forged the stylistic middle ground between John Vanbrugh, who was mostly self-taught, and the more intellectual Christopher Wren. Together, the three men formed a trio of great British Baroque architects.
Nicholas Hawksmoor was born in the year 1661, in Nottinghamshire to a family of somewhat modest means. He was fortunate enough to have the privilege to work with Christopher Wren early on (from 1684 to 1700) in a variety of projects among them, St. Paul's Cathedral in London, Hampton Court Palace, Chelsea Hospital and Greenwich Hospital.
Hawksmoor was a somewhat diffident and soft-spoken man and it was probably due in large part to Christopher Wren's doing that he was able to secure positions first as Clerk of the Works at Kensington Palace in 1689 and later as Deputy Surveyor of Works at Greenwich in 1705.
Hawksmoor would lose these dual positions in the year 1718 however, when Wren was replaced as surveyor by William Benson. Benson would install his own brother in both positions that Hawksmoor previously held and he was out of a job. Many people considered this a grave injustice upon Hawksmoor especially in light of his capabilities.
After this incident, Nicholas Hawksmoor then worked for John Vanbrugh and together the two worked on the Blenheim Palace for John Churchill, 1st Duke of Marlborough. The Duchess of Marlborough was a somewhat difficult woman to please and tended to be quite demanding.
Things came to point when John Vanbrugh refused to work for her anymore and Hawksmoor then took over the project. The two also built a castle for Charles Howard (who later became the 3rd Earl of Carlisle).
The partnership between Nicholas Hawksmoor and John Vanbrugh was a highly productive one and beneficial to both men. Hawksmoor was able to benfit from the years of experience of John Vanbrugh and Vanbrugh, who was inherently brilliant though untrained, was able to utilise Hawksmoor's professional training that he received from Christopher Wren. It was through this partnership that John Vanbrugh's fantastic design could be realised into actuality.
Nicholas Hawksmoor worked on only one country house as the sole architect. This was the Easton Neston in Northamptonshire, which he designed for Sir William Fermor. Begun in 1702, the house was built in the baroque style as was befitting Hawksmoor's training.
Easton Neston was an interesting study in the styles of both John Vanbrugh and Hawksmoor, for Vanbrugh designed the wings and the entrance to the colonnade while the rest of the house bore Hawksmoor's imprint. Hawksmoor also remodeled the Ockham House for the Lord Chief Justice King.
Many of Nicholas Hawksmoor architectural ideas stemmed from studies of the monuments of ancient Rome and reconstructions of the Temple of Solomon, although it is interesting to note that he never went on the Grand Tour to Italy as many of his contemporaries did. Nevertheless, Hawksmoor's versatility and range is apparent in his work.
Nicholas Hawksmoor died in March 25th, 1736.
Original Authors: Doods Pangburn
Edit Update Authors: M.A.Harris
Updated On: 16/05/2008
