Study for the crowning aedicule on the canopy of the Lord Mayor’s or Bishop’s Throne. Reverse: study for the central bay of the entrance screen to the Morning Prayer Chapel

WRE/4/2/3

c.1693–94

Sir Christopher (1632–1723) Wren, Nicholas (c.1662–1736) Hawksmoor

Pen and brown ink over pencil, with grey wash, pen shading and additions in pencil; pencil and red chalk on reverse. Laid paper. 35.1 x 29.5 cm, laid down on modern paper frame, 40.0 x 34.5 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 Very similar in technique to WRE/4/2/2, this study is a scheme for enlarging and enriching the upper canopies of the Bishop\rquote s and Lord Mayor\rquote s thrones in the centres of the north and south stalls shown in WRE/4/1/13. Drawn by Hawksmoor. Datable 1693-94. Implied scale, about 4 inches to 1 ft.\par \par The enlarged canopies would have complemented the tall, separate canopy then proposed for the Bishop\rquote s Throne at the east end of the south range, WRE/4/2/1 and 2. The upper canopy is taller than in WRE/4/1/13 and closer to the completed feature, having pedimented aedicules on three sides and a square plinth on top. The pediments are crowned with vase-like splays, intended as supports for bishops' mitres, sketched lightly in pencil. Angels have been added to the corners; they were replaced by consoles in the fabric, and standing cherubs were carved on the panels. The crown on the plinth signifies the Lord Mayor\rquote s status as the monarch\rquote s representative in the cathedral. It was replaced by a two-stage, pyramidal console motif in the fabric. \par \par \b Reverse:\b0\par \par Initial pencil study, in half-elevation, for the central and flanking bays of the carved wooden screen to the Morning Prayer Chapel (north side) or Consistory Court (south side). It supersedes the proposal for a wrought-iron screen drawn in plan and elevation on WRE/4/3/1 and 2 and was revised in WRE/4/3/3, where the sculptural motifs surmount the pediment. Crowning the central bay is a segmental, scroll-ended, broken pediment which merges with sculptural ornament in the tympanum. This includes a bishop\rquote s mitre (denoting the authority of the Bishop of London over the Consistory Court) and the crossed swords of the Dean of St Paul\rquote s. An alternative swan-neck half-pediment has been deleted. Roughly drawn in red chalk is a large-scale entablature profile. This study indicates that the designs for fitting out the Morning Prayer Chapel are contemporary with those for the choir.\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.

WRE/4/1/13, WRE/4/3/1, WRE/4/3/2, WRE/4/3/3, WRE/5/2/3