Archer, Thomas

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Archer, Thomas (c.1668–1743). English architect, who made the Grand Tour and absorbed the lessons provided by the works of Bernini and Borromini. His reputation rests upon a handful of fine and accomplished Baroque buildings, including the north front of, and cascade house at, Chatsworth, Derbys. (1704–5), the garden-pavilion at Wrest Park, Beds. (1709–11), and three churches (St Philip, Birmingham (now the Cathedral of 1710–15), St Paul, Deptford (1713–30), and St John, Smith Square, Westminster (1713–28)). The last-named building (damaged in the 1939–45 war), has four Baroque towers worthy of Borromini, and open-topped pediments framing aedicules. St Paul's, Deptford, is his finest surviving church, with a centralized space, powerfully modelled wall-surfaces and entablatures, and an elegant tower.

Bibliography

Colvin (1995);
Downes (1966);
Summerson (ed.) (1993);
Whiffen (1950a)