London two months. The fortifications failed their only test when the New Model Army entered London in 1647, and they were levelled by Parliament the same year. London was plagued by disease in the early 17th century, culminating in the Great Plague of 1665–1666, which killed up to 100,000 people, or a fifth of the population. The Great Fire of London broke out in 1666 in Pudding Lane in the city and quickly swept through the wooden buildings. Rebuilding took over ten years and was supervised by Robert Hooke as Surveyor of London. In 1708 Christopher Wren's masterpiece, St Paul's Cathedral
Capriccio of the City of London Fire of London column built in 1677 by architect Sir Christopher Wren who was commissioned to reconstruct much of the city after the fire. Towards the back of the scene is Wren's St Paul's Cathedral which was built between 1676 and 1710. Capriccio of the City of London Capriccio of the City of London is an early 18th century oil painting made by the Dutch Griffier family, who became well known in England. Jan Griffier and his children, Jan and Robert, created the landscape. This canvas shows London almost a century after the devastating Great Fire of London of September