Study-plan and elevation for setting out the coffering of the transept aisle window

WRE/2/4/13

c.1678–79

Sir Christopher (1632–1723) Wren, Unidentified mason-draughtsman (fl. c.1678–c.1690)

Pen and brown ink over pencil under-drawing, with additions in pencil. Laid paper, with dirt and soot staining. 36.2 x 45.3 cm, on modern paper mount, 39.8 x 49.5 cm. Watermark: Strasbourg lily WR.

{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\deff0\deflang2057{\fonttbl{\f0\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 Microsoft Sans Serif;}{\f1\fswiss\fprq2\fcharset0 System;}} {\colortbl ;\red0\green0\blue128;} \viewkind4\uc1\pard\cf1\f0\fs20 A study by an unknown mason-draughtsman of the transept aisle window recess, showing a plan, or horizontal section, at the level of the lowest line of coffers, and a corresponding elevation above the springing of the arch. Drawn by an unidentified mason-draughtsman (fl. c.1678-c.1690). Datable c.1678-79. Implied scale, 2 ft to 1 inch (6 ft = 75 mm).\par \par In 1678-79 construction was halfway up the aisle windows on both sides of the choir and in the east and west aisle bays of the transepts (Wren Society 13, pp.107-08). On 18 July 1679 Thomas Strong and Edward Pearce contracted for construction from the \lquote stay bars\rquote of the windows, at the springing of their arches, to the top of the frieze of the entablature, a zone that included the coffered internal recesses around the window arches: the \lquote Suffitas [soffits] of the windows sunk in pannells\rquote (Wren Society 16, pp.17-18). \par \par The drawing shows the transept aisle recesses as executed. The window bay as a whole is 26 ft across, the recess within this bay being less than a full semicircle (just over 21 ft). Its construction is shown by a triangle of radius lines, each 12 ft long, making a full diameter of 24 ft. The diameter of the inner arch of the coffered recess is also 12 ft. \par \par \b Reverse: \par \b0\par An inscription at the bottom, in pen and brown ink over pencil, is in the same hand as the notes on the front of the drawing: \lquote\i ground plotts / of the spandrall of / the concaves of the Windows / att Stt paules Church / and the Eliptick Arch\i0\rquote . Characteristics of this hand are large, round-bodied letter forms, a lower-case \lquote p\rquote with a v-shaped descender, a two-footed secretary \lquote r\rquote , a reversed secretary \lquote e\rquote , and a \lquote 3\rquote with a round upper loop. The hand is not Edward Strong\rquote s, nor the unidentified draughtsman\rquote s, but appears to be that of a mason, for it is also present on a construction drawing for the concave recesses of the south-west and north-west chapels, WRE/3/4/20. The draughtsman was evidently skilled in setting out the vaulting of such recesses. \par \par The note refers to \lquote\i ground plotts\i0\rquote , or plans, in the plural, but the drawing is a plan and an elevation. The \lquote\i spandrall\i0\rquote is probably the concave element of the recess with its three concentric lines of panels. These panels are drawn in horizontal section on the plan and are shown in elevation on the drawing below the plan. The latter may be the \lquote\i Eliptick Arch\i0\rquote referred to in the note, as its arch exceeds a full semicircle by a few inches. \par \par Also on the \b reverse\b0 , faint lines in pencil for setting-out arches and incised lines that cannot be interpreted. \cf0\b\f1\par }

Access to the Wren office drawings held at London Metropolitan Archives is available only with advance notice and at the discretion of the Heritage Services Director, London Metropolitan Archives, 40 Northampton Road, London, EC1R 0HB.