Sir Christopher Wren: His Family and His Times: With Original Letters and a Discourse on Architecture Hitherto Unpublished. 1585-1723.Phillimore, Lucy
History
Sir Christopher Wren: His Family and His Times: With Original Letters and a Discourse on Architecture Hitherto Unpublished. 1585-1723.
Phillimore, Lucy
Great Britain -- History -- Stuarts, 1603-1714 -- Biography; Wren family; Wren, Christopher, Sir, 1632-1723
'My honoured Friend,--I am convinced with Machiavel or some unlucky
fellow, 'tis no matter whether I quote true, that the world is
generally governed by words. I perceive the name of a quadrangle
will carry it with those whom you say may possibly be your
benefactors, though it be much the worse situation for the
chambers, and the beauty of the college, and of the particular pile
of building. If I had skill in enchantment to represent the pile,
first in one view, then in another, I should certainly make them of
my opinion; or else I will appeal to Mons. Mansard or Signor
Bernini, both of which I shall see at Paris within this fortnight.
'But, to be sober, if anybody, as you say, will pay for a
quadrangle, there is no dispute to be made; let them have a
quadrangle, though a lame one somewhat like a three-legged
table.'...
Some technical details for the builder follow, and then:
'You need not use any apologies to me, for I must beg you to
believe you can command me in things of greater moment, and that I
love to serve you as your most faithful and affectionate Friend and
Servant,
'CHRISTOPHER WREN.'
The College was repaired by Sir Thomas Pope, it having been left in a
very ruinous condition, but the ornamental part is due to Dr. Bathurst,
aided by munificent Archbishop Sheldon and other old members of the
College.
He was making considerable additions to Trinity College at Cambridge: to
this date belongs the library, which he added to the beautiful western
Quadrangle known as Nevile's Court.
'A building,' said Wren, in a letter to the Master of Trinity, 'of
that consideration you go about, deserves good care in the design
and able workmen to perform it; and that he who takes the general
management upon him may have a prospect of the whole, and make all
parts inside and outside correspond well together.'
Very full directions and six drawings follow, explaining the plan and
its details.
'I suppose,' he ends, 'you have good masons; however, I would
willingly take a farther pains to give all the mouldings in great;
we are scrupulous in small matters and you must pardon us, the
architects are as great pedants as critics and heralds.'
[_WREN AT PARIS._]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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