A View of St. Paul’s Choice, London, from the Altar

Magnificent engraved view of the interior of St. Paul’s Cathedral.

The Great Fire of London of 1666 devastated much of the city’s magnificent religious and civic architecture. Sir Christopher Wren was one of many who tackled the herculean task of rebuilding, and he ultimately designed upwards of fifty different churches in the years following the fire. St. Paul’s was his masterpiece – a fine example of classical Baroque architecture with a sumptuous interior to match.

The cathedral’s choir can be seen in full glory on this copperplate engraved print issued in a December, 1750 issue of London’s Gentleman’s Magazine. Despite the skillful engraving, the grandeur of the church cannot be adequately depicted in two dimensions.