Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
As to continental influences Kuyper (1980, 121-2) remarks:
…Pratt and May, fused the different sources into a consistent style of their
own, whereas the more enquiring, probing scientific mind of Wren tried
from time to time to assimilate various complete facade schemes into his vast
complexes.
Wren was quite likely to seek out the advice of these respected architects and
friends, especially on points of detailing and manipulation of materials; this
is particularly so with brick (an essential masonry material in the city), with a
precise refinement important and attractive to Wren's taste.
Some of Wren's buildings, such as Tring Manor (Buckinghamshire) (1670)
and the Royal Hospital at Chelsea, London (1682-91), do recall massing and
detailing in the combination of brick and stone as seen in Dutch work (Kuyper,
1980, 122-3).
Following the Great Fire of London in 1666, it was to Wren, appointed
Surveyor General in 1661, to whom the task of re-building elements of the cap-
ital fell, an opportunity unique in the annals of architecture. As stated earlier,
over 13,200 houses and 86 churches had been destroyed. Wren was to build 30
of the latter and a number of other prestigious properties; though his crown-
ing glory was undoubtedly St Paul's Cathedral (
c.
1675-1711). Wren was fortu-
nate in having the assistance of some of the greatest craftsmen in England, as
well as Europe, gathered in the metropolis who had a thorough understanding
of their craft. These included Grinling Gibbons (wood carver), Caius Gabriel
Cibber (stone carver and sculptor), Jean Tijou (blacksmith), and Peter Mills,
Edward Helder and Maurice Emmett (master bricklayers). Wren was also
very fortunate in having his most gifted chief assistant, Nicholas Hawksmoor
(1661-1736) from the late 1670s, whose natural architectural talent stimulated
and brought out the very best of Wren. The accession of William III and Mary
II in 1688 added further impetus to the assimilation of Dutch influence dur-
ing a period of major alterations by Wren to Kensington and Hampton Court
Palaces at the order of the king and queen (Whinney, 1971, 161).
Wren employed constructional materials in a manner that maximised their
benefits architecturally, and revealed his mathematical genius for problem solv-
ing. It is no surprise that he should triumph in getting the gauged work of his
buildings, such as the Chelsea Hospital
d
.1682-91, Kensington Palace
d
.1689-
1702 and Hampton Court Palace
d
.1689-1702, to the degree of accuracy and
fineness he achieved (Lloyd, 1925, 61-2):
In the Fountain Court at Hampton Court Palace, finely jointed, rubbed, red
brickwork is associated with the light and dark of moulded and richly carved
Portland stone, producing the gayest effect. Such use of brick by Wren has been
