Panorama: View from the Stone Gallery, St Paul's looking East/South 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 view is looking east/south-east towards Cannon Street Station with Greenwich, the Tower of London, the Monument and Tower Bridge in the background. At the left is St Mary Aldermanbury. The foreground is of bombed sites either side of Cannon Street and Queen Victoria Street, with the tower of Wren's St Mildred, Bread Street, bombed in 1941 and now lost. At the right is Southwark Cathedral.