£3 members, £5 non-members

James Gibbs’s Church of St Mary-le-Strand has often been interpreted by historians as Gibbs’s most Italianate building, the expression, in stylistic terms, of his Tory politics and his Roman Catholic faith. As such, many have viewed it as a failure, one that identified Gibbs as being out of step with the Palladianism that was coming into fashion as the church went up. In this talk, William Aslet argues that this view has been misconceived. Rather than taking its cues from Baroque Italy, Aslet will suggest that in this church Gibbs responds quite precisely to its unique London island site. Rather than a failure, St Mary-le-Strand emerges as the building that made Gibbs’s name and launched his career.

William Aslet is currently researching for a PhD on James Gibbs at Peterhouse, University of Cambridge. He read History at the University of Oxford, before moving to Cambridge, where he completed his MPhil, also on Gibbs. His publications include works on eighteenth-century British architecture as well as on Elizabethan portrait miniatures.

The talks starts at 6.30pm. Joining details will be sent to attendees the day before.

Georgian Group members are eligible for a discount on their ticket by entering GGMEMBER at the checkout.

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