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Article
Sir Christopher Wren’s failed project for a crossing tower and spire at Westminster Abbey, 1713–25
01/2019 | 1390 | 161
Pages: 44-57
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related names
Author:
Higgott, Gordon (Higgott, Gordon)
Subjects
art literature:
Archimedes / Vitruvius
artists:
Wren, Christopher / Dickinson, William, c.1621–1725 / Hawksmoor, Nicholas / Hollar, Wenceslaus
buildings:
Westminster Abbey, London, Great Britain
media:
Architecture / Architectural components / Architectural models / Architectural drawings / Diagrams
patrons:
Henry III, King of England, 1207-1272
places:
Great Britain / London
subjects:
British architecture / Architectural theory / Architectural history / Abbeys / Churches / Towers / Spires / Cloisters / Cathedrals / Domes / Ornament / Patronage / Gothic Revival / Romanesque
Illustrations
Attributed works:
1. Model of the crossing with Wren’s project for a tower and spire, from the north west, by Elizabeth Gregory (as head carpenter). 1714–16. Oak and pearwood, 240 by 116 by 85.5 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster).
Attributed works:
10. The south-west crossing pier of Westminster Abbey, from the south-east gallery. (Photograph Lisa Stein).
Attributed works:
11. The easternmost bay on the north side of the nave, showing distortion of the crossing pier at the level of the aisle vaults. (Photograph the author).
Attributed works:
12. Plan of the tower of the model at four levels, with Wren’s proposal for strengthening the crossing piers at bottom left, by William Dickinson. c.1714. Pen and brown ink over graphite with grey wash on paper, 33.9 by 39 cm. (The Bodleian Libraries, The University of Oxford, Gough Maps 23, fol.46(b)).
Attributed works:
13. Detail of a survey plan of a crossing pier, by William Dickinson. 1713. Pen and brown ink over graphite with black wash on paper, 20.1 by 31.7 cm. (The Bodleian Libraries, The University of Oxford, Gough Maps 23, fol.24v; photograph the author).
Attributed works:
14. Copy of a diagram by Wren of an aisle and crossing pier, by ‘Mr Gayfere’. c.1715–c.1735. Pen and brown ink on paper, 15.2 by 9 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster; WAM 66895*).
Attributed works:
15. Detail of Westminster Abbey from St James’s Park, by William Lodge, printed by Pierce Tempest. 1680s. Etching, 13 by 25.5 cm. (The Bodleian Libraries, The University of Oxford, Gough Maps 23, fol.46v.(d); photograph the author).
Attributed works:
16. Detail of a copy of Wren’s Figure II in his Tract II (1710–30), showing a pier and a half-arch, with their centres of gravity, in Christopher Wren Jr’s manuscript for Parentalia. 1741. Pen and brown ink on paper, 32.7 by 18.6 cm. (© The Royal Society, London; MS 249, fol.483).
Attributed works:
18. Elevation of the proposed tower and spire over a section through the crossing, by William Dickinson. Late 1722 or 1723. With notes and sketched additions by Nicholas Hawksmoor, c.1723. Grey wash over graphite, with grey and brown ink on paper, 72.8 by 21.6 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster; WAM (P) 913).
Attributed works:
19. Long section through the Abbey showing proposals for an octagonal dome over the crossing (with alternatives in a half-plan, top left), and the west towers, by Nicholas Hawksmoor. May 1724. Pen and brown ink with grey wash over graphite on paper, 52.2 by 107.5 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster; WAM (P) 910).
Attributed works:
2. The north prospect of Westminster Abbey, by Wenceslaus Hollar. 1654. Etching, 21.7 by 32.8 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster; Langley Coll I, i (1)).
Attributed works:
20. Detail of a plan of the crossing, choir and sanctuary (with north at the bottom), showing Hawksmoor’s proposal for enlarging the crossing piers, by William Dickinson. June 1724. Pen and brown ink over graphite, with brown, grey and yellow-ochre wash on paper, 49.5 by 54.6 cm. (The Bodleian Libraries, The University of Oxford, Gough Maps 23, fol.24).
Attributed works:
21. The Abbey from the north, showing the first of three alternatives for the lantern and cupola, and a proposal for the west towers, by Nicholas Hawksmoor and Thomas Hinton. 1725–26. Pen and brown ink over grey wash and graphite on paper, 51 by 70.1 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster; WAM, Hawksmoor 4A).
Attributed works:
22. The west front of Westminster Abbey, showing the towers built to Hawksmoor’s design, 1735–45. (Photograph the author).
Attributed works:
3. Survey plan of Westminster Abbey (with north at the bottom), by James Broughton. c.1697–c.1705. Pen and brown ink shaded in black and grey wash over graphite on paper, 53.5 by 74.8 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster; WAM (P) 915).
Attributed works:
4. Sectional model of one bay of the choir and cloister, by Elizabeth Gregory (as head carpenter), 1710. Oak and pearwood, 72.9 by 83.7 by 16.2 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster).
Attributed works:
5. Elevation (with alternatives) of the proposed tower and spire, with the gable of the north transept front, and attached plan, by William Dickinson. September and December 1722. Pen and brown ink over graphite, with grey and brown wash on paper, 104 by 38.2 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster; WAM (P) 907, 907A).
Attributed works:
6. Detail of the model in Fig.1, showing the vault over the crossing. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster).
Attributed works:
7. The quire of Westminster Abbey from the west. c.1700. Canvas, 153 by 129 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster; WA 1775).
Attributed works:
8. Plan of the vault for the crossing lantern, by Nicholas Hawksmoor. 1726–27. Pen and brown ink, with yellow ochre and grey wash over graphite on paper, 47.5 by 35 cm. (© The Dean and Chapter of Westminster).
Attributed works:
9. The north transept front and the crossing lantern of Westminster Abbey. (Photograph the author).
Western art unattributed:
17. The north-east prospect of Beverley Minster, published by H. Overton and J. Hoole (London) and G. Feraby (Hull). c.1717. Engraving, 48.5 by 56.7 cm. (The Bodleian Libraries, The University of Oxford, Gough Maps 35, fol.2).
Article
The revised design for St. Paul's Cathedral, 1685-90: Wren, Hawksmoor and Les Invalides
08/2004 | 1217 | 146
Pages: 534-547
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related names
Author:
Higgott, Gordon (Higgott, Gordon)
Subjects
artists:
Wren, Christopher
artists:
Hawksmoor, Nicholas
buildings:
Saint Paul's Cathedral, London, Great Britain
buildings:
Eglise Saint-Louis des Invalides, Paris, France
dates:
1650-1699
places:
England / London
print:
Saint Paul's Cathedral, London, Great Britain
print:
Eglise Saint-Louis des Invalides, Paris, France
print:
Wren, Christopher
print:
Hawksmoor, Nicholas
subjects:
British architecture / Cathedrals
Illustrations
Attributed works:
30. The Warrant design, main floor plan of St Paul's Cathedral (with plan of dome superimposed), by Christopher Wren. 1675. Black ink and wash, 33.5 by 52.3 cm. (Wren collection, All Souls College, Oxford; II.10).
Attributed works:
32. South elevation of St Paul's Cathedral, preparatory for engraving, by Nicholas Hawksmoor. c.1686-87. Grey-black ink and grey wash, over pencil with crayon markings, 48.2 by 63.8 cm. (Wren collection, All Souls College, Oxford; II.29).
Attributed works:
33. West elevation of St Paul's Cathedral, preparatory for engraving (detail), by Nicholas Hawksmoor. c.1686-87. Grey-black ink and grey wash, with pencil notes and amendments, 43.2 by 63.8 cm. (Wren collection, All Souls College, Oxford; II.37).
Attributed works:
34. (left to right): a. Corinthian capital and swag from design for internal transept elevation. St Paul's Cathedral, by Christopher Wren. c.1675; b. Corinthian capital from design for same elevation, with scale bar, by Edward Pearce. 1678-79; c. Corinthian capital from design for same elevation, with scale bar, by an unidentified draughtsman. 1678-79; d. Detail of cartouche and swag from elevation of transept portal, by Edward Pearce. c.1678-85. (St Paul's collection, Guildhall Library, London; KD 30-32 and 128).
Attributed works:
36. Samples of Nicholas Hawksmoor's annotations (top to bottom): a. Detail from sheet formerly attached to Fig.40. c.1685-86 (St Paul's collection, Guildhall Library, London; KD 45). b. Detail from Fig.32, bottom right. c.1686-87; c. Detail from Hawksmoor's design for Ingestre Hall, Staffordshire. 1688 (Staffordshire Record Office, Stafford; D (W) 1855, p.296); d. Detail from design for the St Paul's Morning Prayer Chapel. c.1696-97 (Wren collection, All Souls College, Oxford; IV.95).
Attributed works:
37. (left to right): a. Detail of scale bar on part-elevation for the east front of Hampton Court Palace, by Nicholas Hawksmoor. 1689-90. Brown ink. (Sir John Soane's Museum, London; 110/12); b. Detail of scale bar on elevation for the Great Portal from the Clock Court to the Fountain Court, Hampton Court Palace, by Nicholas Hawksmoor. 1690-91. Brown ink. (Sir John Soane's Museum, London; 110/53); c. Detail of scale bar on the elevation shown in Fig.39.
Attributed works:
38. Elevation of the upper transept front of St Paul's Cathedral, with revisions on flap (detail), by Nicholas Hawksmoor. c.1685-86. Brown ink, pencil and red crayon, 48.2 by 34.6 cm. (St Paul's collection, Guildhall Library, London; KD 44).
Attributed works:
39. North elevation of the western body of St Paul's Cathedral, by Nicholas Hawksmoor. c.1685-86. Brown ink and pencil, 49 by 66.5 cm. (St Paul's collection, Guildhall Library, London; KD 14).
Attributed works:
40. Detail of upper transept front in Fig.32.
Attributed works:
41. Half-section through St Paul's Cathedral at triforium level, showing screen wall and alternatives for flying buttress, by Edward Pearce. c.1685-86. Brown ink and pencil, 51.6 by 60.4 cm. (St Paul's collection, Guildhall Library, London; KD 57).
Attributed works:
43. Engraving by Jean Marot of the east side elevation of 'l'église de l'Hostel royal des Invalides' from L.J. de Boulencourt: Description Generale De l'Hostel Royal Des Invalides établi Par Louis Le Grand dans la Plaine de la Grenelle prés Paris [...], Paris 1683, 29.5 by 26.5 cm. (Private collection).
Attributed works:
44. Detail of a bird's-eye view of Les Invalides from the south, showing the domed church, by Daniel Marot. Engraving from L.J. de Boulencourt: Description Generale De l'Hostel Royal Des Invalides établi Par Louis Le Grand dans la Plaine de la Grenelle prés Paris [...], Paris 1683, 20 by 14 cm. (Private collection).
Attributed works:
45. Revised ground plan with proposals for underground drains, by Christopher Wren. c.1686. Ink, with pencil and red crayon, 25.1 by 36.3 cm. (All Souls College, Oxford, Wren collection; II.33).
Attributed works:
46. Side (west) elevation of 'l'église de l'Hostel royal des Invalides', by Pierre Lepautre. 1687. Engraving, 56 by 126 cm. (Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, Va. 444, format 6).
Attributed works:
47. St Paul's Cathedral, north transept front. 2003. (Photograph: Nigel Corrie, English Heritage, London).
Attributed works:
48. Elevation of revised central bay, north transept front, St Paul's Cathedral, by Nicholas Hawksmoor. c.1687-88. Brown ink and pencil, 31.2 by 43 cm. (St Paul's collection, Guildhall Library, London; KD 10).
Attributed works:
49. Revised south elevation (fragment), by Nicholas Hawksmoor. c.1687-88. Brown ink with grey wash and pencil, 21 by 32.4 cm. John R. Redmill).
Attributed works:
50. East-west section of St Paul's Cathedral, proof state of c.1687-88, by unidentified engravers. Engraving with contemporary brown ink notes and sketches by Nicholas Hawksmoor, 49.5 by 72.3 cm. (St Paul's collection, Guildhall Library, London; KD 94).
Attributed works:
51. Revised design for the dome of St Paul's Cathedral, in four separate pieces, pasted onto a base sheet, by Nicholas Hawksmoor. c.1690 (section and plan), with reused elevation pieces from c.1687-88. Brown inks and pencil, 46.8 by 30.5 cm. (St Paul's collection, Guildhall Library, London; KD 95).
Attributed works:
52. Diagonal section of the dome of 'l'église de l'Hostel royal des Invalides', by Pierre Lepautre. 1687. Engraving, 134.5 by 92.5 cm. (Bibliothèque nationale de France, Paris, Va. 444, format 6).
Western art unattributed:
31. St Paul's Cathedral. South elevation and half plan as built, from A. Poley: St Paul's Cathedral, London, Measured, Drawn and Described, London 1927, pls.8 and 23, shaded to indicate main phases of construction from 1675 by 1688. (Richard Lea, English Heritage, London).
Western art unattributed:
35. Half section through the choir at the level of the triforium, St Paul's Cathedral (detail), by an unidentified draughtsman. c.1678-80. Brown ink and pencil, 22.2 by 40.5 cm. (St Paul's collection, Guildhall Library, London; KD 6).
Western art unattributed:
42. North elevation of St Paul's Cathedral, proof state of c.1687-88, with later cut-outs from prints of the executed dome pasted on, by unidentified engravers. Engraving, 45 by 72 cm. (Dean and Chapter of St Paul's Cathedral, London, Trophy Room; SP.105).