Westminster Abbey; West Portal and Towers
Hawksmoor, Nicholas
Download1A2-E-L-WA-1-A1_cp.jpg (461.8Kb)
Date
1734-1745Description
General view of the west front, from the west; The abbey's two western towers were built between 1722 and 1745 by Nicholas Hawksmoor, constructed from Portland stone to an early example of a Gothic Revival design. Further rebuilding and restoration occurred in the 19th century under Sir George Gilbert Scott. "In 1723, on the death of Wren, he became architect to Westminster Abbey, the west gable (1735) and towers (1734-1745) of which are his; they also are Gothic in texture and feeling rather than in detail. On this occasion the retiring side of his character extended to architecture, and few post-medieval completions have been so sympathetically successful." Source: Grove Art Online; http://www.groveart.com/ (accessed 1/25/2008)
Type of Work
façadeSubject
architectural exteriors, Gothic Revival
Rights
Rights Statement
Licensed for educational and research use by the MIT community only