Panorama: View from the Stone Gallery, St Paul's looking East

Lawrence Wright (1906-1983) was a much sought-after perspective artist, working for other members of the profession for almost half a century. He was employed by the most eminent architects of the time such as Sir Basil Spence OBE FRIBA. Wright was the author of 'Perspective in Perspective' (1983) and also drew highly finished topographical perspectives, such as his 'View of the South Bank of the Thames from Charing Cross during demolitions in 1949 prior to The Festival of Britain'.

This watercolour is one of seven depicting a 260 degree panorama; the missing 100 degrees was painted in three other watercolours which do not however tally with these seven. The panorama shows a view around St Paul's and in this work it looks east towards St Mary-le-Bow which was heavily bombed during World War II and rebuilt 1956-1962. In the background, the Bank of England, Royal Exchange and Mansion House are visible together with the Midland Bank in Poultry Lane, St Michael, Cornhill, St Stephen Walbrook and the Port of London Authority building. The foreground vividly shows the devastation in Watling Street and Cheapside caused by the bombing.