Hampton Court Palace Stone Facade of the East Front, 2004

The East Front and South Front

The exterior of Sir Christopher Wren's building at Hampton Court is probably the best and most famous expression of the Baroque style in England. The magnificent East and South fronts, built in red brick with Portland stone carvings, were intended to rival Louis XIV's rebuilding of Versailles.

The great stone centrepiece, the focal point for the design of the East Front, is surmounted by a giant pediment containing Caius Gabriel Cibber's relief of Hercules triumphing over Envy. Great Corinthian columns support the pediment and flank the three windows of the Queen's Drawing Room. Over the middle window is a symbolic composition of trumpet, sceptre and crown, incorporating William and Mary's monogram.

Over the centre window of the South Front a trophy of arms with the Latin inscription Gulielmus et Maria Rex et Regina Fecerunt records the building of the new palace by William and Mary and highlights the Privy Chamber within, the most important ceremonial room in the palace.

Text from: www.hrp.org.uk/webcode/content.asp?ID=418