Thursday, November 20, 2014

Saint Paul's Cathedral by Chistopher Wren

This work is located in London, England. Is an anglican cathedral in London and it's the London see and bishop's church. It was built during 35 years, from 1675 to 1710. It is a big church built with some materials like bricks and cut stones.

The cathedral contains papers and drawing related with artists and designers (nearly 226). It's an exceptionally historic building and describes the style of the architect Christopher Wren in it's design, construction and decoration.

There are some features:
- The church is composed of different parts, like the underground or the Golden Gallery.

- There's a nave, which is a central section that leads to the dome.

- The church has a cross shape with a large dome (111.3 metres high).

-The area under the dome is use for worshipping.

- The crypt, which is the burial place, has monuments of some different purposes (conflicts and outstanding archievements).

- The "Occulus" is a overlook that tells the history of the Cathedral and its surroundings.

- There are some chapels in the cathedral, they are used for reflection and praying. On the cathedral floor you can see six chapels, but the most important ones arethe Chapel of All Souls and the Chapel of Saint Dunstan.

- The west of the exterior is very flashy because it has a triangular relief representing the remodelling of the cathedral patron saint to Christianity. You can see the shape of Saint Paul above it, rounded by other apostles and the four evangelists.

There are some documents that record the structural changes and decorative embellishments of the Cathedral during 1852-1897.

Structural changes of the church:

-The focusing of decoring the interior.

- The use of mosaics.

- Stained glass windows.

- The extension of the choir.


                                     
                                           Source: http://www.e-architect.co.uk/architects/christopher-wren


Source: https://roundaboutlondon.wordpress.com/category/churches/page/3
Here we can see the nave of the cathedral.

- It has some domes, built very big to increase the beauty of the building.
-Also,the nave has different tones, like black and white marble in the floor. This explains the interesting in the using of colour. 
-The building also gives the sensation of movement beacuse of the appearance of shadows.
-At the background, in the althar, the curved lines stand out over the rest because of the impresion they feel.

Chistopher Wren was an English scientist and mathematician and one of the most important architects in England. He was born on 20 October 1632 in East Knoyle, Wiltshire and he died on 25 February 1723. Wren's interest in architecture developed when he studied physics and engineering. In 1665 he visited Paris and from this moment he was influenced by French and Italian baroque styles.
One year later, in 1666 Wren had a huge oportunity to become famous, The Great Fire of London. He take advantage of it and he designed 51 new churches, because the city of London was devastated.
Finally, in 1669 he was appointed surveyor of the royalty.

Right after, there's a photo of Chistopher Wren.

Source: http://www.biografiasyvidas.com/biografia/w/wren.htm


Sources of the information:




1 comment:

Paqui Pérez Fons said...

ello,

I've made your pictures biggers and corrected some problems with the style.

Here you have my corrections and comments:

- It's an Anglican cathedral

- the style of the architect Christopher Wren in its design,

- The church has a cross floor plan (shape) with a large dome (111.3 metres high). Is it Latin of Greek cross plan?

-The area under the dome is used for worshipping.

- The crypt, which is the burial place, has monuments for(of) some different purposes (conflicts and outstanding achievements).

- The "Occulus" is an overlook

- There are some chapels in the cathedral, (they are) used for reflection and praying.

-... a triangular relief representing the conversion (remodeling) of the cathedral patron saint to Christianity. You can see the (shape) image? of Saint Paul above it, surrounded by other apostles and the four evangelists.


-The focus(ing) of decorating the interior.

- It has some very big domes, built (very big) to increase the beauty of the building.

-... This explains the interest(ing) in the use(ing) of colour.

-The building also gives the sensation of movement because of the appearance of shadows.

-(At) In the background, in the altar, the curved lines stand out over the rest because of the impresssion they (feel) transmit.

-... influenced by French and Italian aroque styles.
One year later, in 1666 Wren had a huge opportunity to become famous, The Great Fire of London. He took advantage of it


What are the Baroque features of the building? Why didn’t you include a picture of the floor plan?
You haven’t commented on the similarities between Saint Peter’s Basilica and Saint Paul Cathedral. You could have done it much better.

Your mark is 7. Bye!