Half-section through the south side of the western body at triforium level, looking west

WRE/3/4/12

1685–86

Sir Christopher (1632–1723) Wren, Unidentified draughtsman associated with west end and dome (fl. c.1685–91)

Pen and brown ink over pencil under-drawing. Thin laid paper, torn and repaired in the centre with a backing of tissue. 31.4 x 41.4 cm. No visible watermark.

{\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 half-section taken through the centre-line of the library chamber, looking towards the western gallery and west window. Drawn by the unidentified draughtsman associated with the west end and dome (fl. c.1685-91). Datable 1685-86. Implied scale, c.6 ft to 1 inch (from WRE/3/4/11).\par \par In the technique, this drawing is similar to the next two: the upper elevation of the south half of the west front, WRE/3/3/13, and the east-west section through the south library chamber and south-west tower, WRE/3/4/14. Unbroken ink outlines are laid over minimal pencil under-drawing, and the consoles and cornices are fluently rendered in undulating lines, without the impressionistic shading characteristic of Hawksmoor\rquote s hand. Cornice profiles are executed on a diagonal pencil lines. On the present drawing the abacus has been omitted from the Composite capital in profile on the left side.\par \par The vault of the library chamber is set slightly higher than on WRE/3/4/11; its profile was altered again in the three long sections through the upper library chambers, WRE/3/4/13-15.\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/3/3/13, WRE/3/2/8, WRE/3/3/9, WRE/5/1/5, WRE/6/1/9