Study for the upper entablature of the west front

WRE/3/3/12

1685–86

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

Pen and brown ink over pencil with pen shading and additions in pencil. Thick, smooth laid paper (similar to WRE/3/1/1 and 2). 14.4 x 49.0 cm. Watermark: Strasbourg lily WR (cut off).

{\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 Hawksmoor to the same scale as WRE/3/1/1 and 2 (3/5 inch to 1 ft, i.e. 1 : 20), and with similar handwriting, but probably with preparatory lines and additions by Wren in pencil. Datable 1685-86. \par \par The scale marked \lquote\i Minutes\i0\rquote derives from the diameter, or module, of the upper Composite columns and pilasters (3 ft 3 inches). Sixty minutes were used to proportion parts of the entablature in accordance with Renaissance precepts. Vertical broken lines, marked \lquote\i Pillor\i0\rquote , denote the centres of the columns or pilasters and correspond to their positions in the fabric. The profile of the entablature is very nearly as built: the top moulding was increased by about 3 inches to bring the overall built height to 7 ft 3 inches; the consoles were given shorter channelled flutes and the carved \lquote metopes\rquote between them were omitted; and the egg-and-dart motifs between the consoles were enlarged to read more clearly from a distance. Sketched in pencil on the right are the plan and section of the rosettes between the consoles and a sloping line above the top moulding for the shedding of water. The sheet was trimmed at the bottom, leaving the profile of the top moulding of the entablature, presumably a superseded design. \par \par \b Reverse:\b0\par \par Two pencil sketches. A smaller sketch, probably in Hawksmoor\rquote s hand, is a schematic elevation of a console, marked \lquote\i 1\i0\rquote , in relation to bay divisions marked \lquote\i 17\i0\rquote between broken vertical lines. These lines relate to the spacing of the column centres, which scale at 16 ft 4 inches on the front elevation. Drawn to the right of this, in the opposite sense, is a more tentative large-scale profile of the top moulding and console surmounted by a blocking course with a stepped top surface sloping back from the front. The lightly sketched, broken pencil lines in the blocking course suggest the hand of Wren.\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.

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WRE/3/1/1, WRE/3/1/2, WRE/3/1/9