The Georgian Group’s annual symposium for 2026, Vanbrugh: From Stage to Stone, was held in partnership with Ax:son Johnson Centre for the Study of Classical Architecture at Downing College, Cambridge on the 27th March.
This multidisciplinary academic conference explored the impact and enduring legacy of Sir John Vanbrugh, marking 300 years since his death in March 1726 and formed part of the Vanbrugh300 festival.
The programme featured a wonderful line-up of speakers, offering fresh insights into all aspects of Vanbrugh’s life and work, and the reasons his work continues to be celebrated in this tercentenary year. With four sessions and a final panel discussion, and with papers limited to fifteen minutes each, the day was busy but extremely productive.
The first session, focusing on Vanbrugh as a writer (both of letters and plays) and as a herald, was followed by a session analysing Vanbrugh’s politics and his architecture at Castle Howard and as a spatial planner. After lunch, delegates returned to the beautiful Howard Theatre to hear papers focusing on Vanbrugh’s networks, from stone-masons to architects such as Thomas Archer. The fourth and final session saw papers concentrated on Vanbrugh’s involvement at Stowe. A panel discussion then analysed Vanbrugh’s influence, from the years immediately following his death to the 20th century.
Thanks to support from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, a recording of the symposium will be made available on our dedicated Vanbrugh300 website. We were especially grateful to The Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art, for funding student places.