Finished design for the transept outer doorcase, overdoor and frieze (9ft opening)

WRE/2/4/5

1678

Sir Christopher (1632–1723) Wren, Edward (c.1635–1695) Pearce, Unidentified draughtsman (fl.1675–c.1687)

Pen and brown ink over incised lines and pencil under-drawing, with grey-brown wash, and splashed with grey wash. Darkish laid paper. 44.5 x 24.9 cm, in modern paper frame, 47.5 x 27.8 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 Drawn by Pearce, this study refines Wren\rquote s finished design, WRE/2/4/4, while retaining its overall dimensions. Datable 1678. Drawn scale (in the hand of the unidentified draughtsman), just under 3/8 inch to 1 ft (1 : 32) (10ft = 94 mm).\par \par Characteristic of Pearce\rquote s hand is the drawing of fruit and leaves in plump, rounded forms, the \lquote dolphin head\rquote profiles in the leaves or fruits, and the horizontal pen shading in the Corinthian capitals. Pearce adjusted some of the ornaments of the frame in WRE/2/4/4, slightly widening the pilaster-panels and consoles and adding breaks in the entablature. In the built work, shorter consoles carry salient lower cornice mouldings. \par \par Pearce\rquote s foliage ornaments are more freely handled than Wren\rquote s, a quality carried through into his revision of the overdoor, WRE/2/4/6, and into the finished carving, executed in 1684 (Wren Society 13, p.189-90). The relieving arch behind the overdoor panel is drawn in dashed pencil outlines. Lightly ruled pencil lines mark the block construction of the panel. \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.