Sir Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren was born under the rule of Charles I. During the year 1632 this child prodigy was born. He was born with the gifts of mathematics. He then learned to do many things with mathematics. Wren became a professor of astronomy, experimented in scientist, and was in the Royal Society of London for Improving Natural Knowledge. Everyone must start somewhere, and that somewhere was the Westminister School. Wren then moved onto Oxford where he received his degree and also received the title "the miracle of youth" (Whinney 8) from his close friend John Evelyn. Evelyn thought it was amazing that Wren could use his brilliance for science instead of the arts. Most people in that time who where considered brilliant were people of the art profession. John would soon see how Wren used his architecture as art.There is no true reason why Wren turned to architecture. He was truly admired for his works of art. He would watch modern architecture being built with an undisturbed eye. It was like a high school band watching Mozart. Sir Christopher once sat and watched the Louvre being built. In one of his few letters he writes: I would have given my skin for it, but the old reserved Italian gave me but a few M
At about the time Sir Christopher Wren was making a name for himself, Saint Pauls Church of London was in need of restoration. Wren then drew up quite a few sets of plans, until he collaborated a couple to have a final set. Wren's plans were almost extreme in idea; he wanted to make the inside nave look like the outside. Sir Christopher also wanted the nave vault to be saucers or domes. Wren then came up with a trend-setting idea that would revolutionize architecture. He would enlarge the crossing by cutting out the piers and by this creating a dome. Christopher was not only concerned with structural problems but also with the way the church was to look. The basic concept contained two main ideas "a great central space and a tall dome" (Whinney 36). Wren decided that Saint Pauls Church of London was to have a Latin cross plan. The beauty of the Ely Cathedral gave this idea to him. Ely Cathedral is the only medieval building in England to have these characteristics. Sir Christopher's uncle just happened to be the head of the church. Wren's uncles pull probably helped get him the job. Wren also designed the Trinity College Library, Cambridge. He developed new ideas such as dropping the bookshelves so that the readers could enjoy the beautiful light through the windows. Sir Christopher went through a lot of trouble with the interior. Even today, you can see some of the original tables, stools, and book-rest in the library. He advised marble flooring for the center hallway so that footsteps would not make as much noise. The finishing of the library was slow but well worth the time. Wren's most French design of all has to be the Palace at Winchester. It was constructed under King Charles II. The Palace was begun in 1683. After two years of construction, it was brought to a halt. The king had died, and there was no longer any need for it. As years were to come, it would be altered and eventually be damaged by a fire. The rest of the city still had to be decided. A commission was appointed by the king to deal with the position of London. Wren was one of three to collaborate in the effort. Hugh May and Roger Pratt were the other two designers. The city itself also appointed three architects to accompany Wren, May, and Pratt.
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Approximate Word count = 1511
Approximate Pages = 6 (250 words per page double spaced)
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