Wren at Work

Posted on: May 4th, 2023 by wrenEditor

The rebuilding of London and the new St Paul’s cathedral after the 1666 fire was said to have taken place with a frenzy and fervour akin to the conflagration itself. Overseen by the Phoenix and the inscription ‘Resurgam’, this compact exhibition is constructed to expose visitors to the intensity of this significant moment in the Capital’s history through the life and works of Christopher Wren and his contemporaries. Within a re-creation of Wren’s St Paul’s working ‘office’ as it is described in James Campbell’s ‘Building St Paul’s young and old will be able to explore, study. witness and appreciate in animated fashion:

 

  • The building methods and tools of the age,
  • Peruse facsimile drawings and documents from The Guildhall’s and other collections
  • A case study of how citizens lost and regained their properties after the fire
  • The daily lives of 17th century diarists and writers (Robert Hooke, John Evelyn, Margaret Cavendish)
  • The birth of ‘The Royal Society’ and new scientific enquiry at Gresham College
  • The similarities and differences of the working world of ‘The English Baroque Architect’ from our own 21st century perspective.

 

Entering this faux 17th century environment – constructed by Chelsea Construction – will add weight and substance to perceptions of our own age through the lens of one man’s achievements. The artist / cartographer Adam Dant has created a specially commissioned map which describes all these aspects of Christopher Wren’s life and times. This will be displayed alongside illustrations from Architect George Saumarez- Smith and members of the WCCA , a scale model of St Paul’s Dome from students at Kingston University, and stone models from master mason Pierre Bidaud

Wren Studio Exhibition

Posted on: April 18th, 2023 by wrenEditor

A free interactive space in the Mezzanine Gallery of the Visitor Centre invites visitors to explore classical architecture inspired by Wren, his work, and designs. A programme of workshops and activities for adults, families and children will accompany the exhibits in the studio space.

The exhibition showcases a selection of works by students and researchers from the Architecture Department, School of Design, at the University of Greenwich. Artworks will include a 3D architectural fly-through animation of the Old Royal Naval College, as well as models and technical drawings of Wren-designed churches and other buildings.

The studio space will also feature never seen before views of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage Site created by Captivate, a Spatial Modelling Research Group. The digital models use a variety of remote sensing technologies such as 3D scanning, photogrammetry, ground penetrating radar, hyper-spectral frequencies, and drone surveys.

A Showcase of Artwork dedicated to Sir Christopher Wren

Posted on: April 14th, 2023 by wrenEditor

Capital Art Gallery are proud to announce a showcase of artworks dedicated to Britain’s greatest architect, Sir Christopher Wren.

Artwork of various medias will be shown at Capital Art Gallery from Saturday 1st July, until Saturday 8th July. We will be exhibiting artwork from both professional and amateur artists.

Any artists wishing to take part, should contact Capital Art Gallery.

 

 

Architectural Drawings by Artist Minty Sainsbury

Posted on: March 2nd, 2023 by wrenEditor

A solo exhibition at the Fitzrovia Gallery of pencil drawings by architectural artist Minty Sainsbury. The exhibition looks a number of different collections of drawing styles that Minty has developed over the years. More recently she has been inspired by the architecture near her artists’s studio in the City of London.

The exhibition includes drawings of four Christopher Wren designed buildings:

  • St Paul’s Cathedral
  • St Stephen Walbrook
  • St Margaret Pattens
  • St Mary le Bow

Alongside original artworks there will be prints and greetings cards available.

Minty will be at the exhibition for the full duration of the exhibition and would love to chat all things art, architecture, and Christopher Wren!

Location: The Fitzrovia Gallery, 139 Whitfield Street, London, W1T 5EN

Sir Christopher Wren: The Quest for Knowledge

Posted on: February 14th, 2023 by wrenEditor

It is 300 years since the death of Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723), the revolutionary scientist, mathematician and architect who was responsible for building the St Paul’s Cathedral we know and love today.

To commemorate his remarkable life, our exhibition Sir Christopher Wren: The Quest for Knowledge will explore and reflect on the early life and career of Wren. The exhibition will chart his lesser-known achievements in mathematics, astronomy and physiology, as well as the design and building of his greatest monument, St Paul’s Cathedral.

With a wealth of material from our archives, discover these rich stories alongside drawings, photographs and treasures from our collection including remarkable historical objects personal to Wren himself.

This exhibition is included with Cathedral admission and can be found in the Crypt’s North aisle.

Opens 27th April 2023.

Wren Themed Wood & Stone Carving Competition

Posted on: January 10th, 2023 by wrenEditor

Our wood and stone carving studios will be open to visitors, who are encouraged to cast their vote in the ever-popular two-day student carving competition, this year themed around Sir Christopher Wren in honour of the tercentenary of his death. As well as watching the historic craft skills of wood and stone carving in action, visitors can have a go at stone carving themselves.  These activities and a host of others related to our specialisms are also part of the Art School’s London Craft Week 2023 programming.  To find out more click HERE

For over 165 years City & Guilds of London Art School has played a vital role in passing on specialist craft skills and inspiring new generations of artists and makers to restore and conserve precious built and cultural heritage for all to see and enjoy.

The Carving department originated in the post-war effort to train professionals for the restoration of war-torn London. Today the courses – validated in 2019 as BA (Hons) Carving and MA Carving – are unique at this level in the UK and further afield and prepare students to work as professionals within the disciplines of woodcarving & gilding or architectural stone carving, able to replicate ornament and reinstate elements of figurative sculpture as well as create new works. By teaching a unique blend of skills, they play a crucial role in keeping alive and securing the future of specialist craftsmanship central to the preservation of historic monuments.

Photography exhibition: London’s Fire Service and The City during the Second World War

Posted on: December 15th, 2022 by wrenEditor

The London Fire Brigade Museum will be commemorating the role of the fire service to protect The City during the Blitz.

One of the worst nights of 1940 was 29 December when the City of London was bombed and set ablaze to such an extent that it is referred to as the Second Great Fire of London. One hundred and sixty-three people were killed, including 12 firefighters, and 509 were injured. Thirteen Wren churches were destroyed, but St Paul’s Cathedral remained standing.

This pop-up exhibition will use images of the work of the firefighter artists and the Brigade’s extensive photography archive to illustrate how the fire service protected The City during the Blitz, especially on the night of 29 December 1940.

Touring exhibition from September 2023 – December 2023

Wren300: ‘A City Full of People’

Posted on: November 9th, 2022 by wrenEditor

Volunteer researchers are sought to carry out historical research for an exciting new project as part of the celebrations to mark the tercentenary of Sir Christopher Wren’s death in 2023. Wren300: ‘A City Full of People’ will investigate the lives of people who lived and worked in the City of London while it was being rebuilt after the Great Fire of 1666.

The team of Wren300 researchers, trained and supported by a social historian, will undertake archival research into a selection of parishes within the Square Mile during the period c.1666 to 1726. The researchers will make use of local archives and online resources to identify some of the people involved in the rebuilding of Wren’s City churches and to gather information about the trades and occupations employed in the work. They will investigate the lives of those who were baptised, married and buried within these churches during this disrupted period in the City’s history. There will also be an opportunity to examine questions of contested heritage and the City’s involvement in the expansion of Britain’s colonial interests.

A full training programme in using and understanding a range of archival sources will be provided, including visits to Wren churches and local and specialist archives. The project will result in the researchers retelling the stories of the people they have investigated in a way that is accessible for modern audiences, either as written narratives or recorded interviews. Their findings will be shared in an exhibition which the researchers will help to curate.

The research phase will run from December 2022 to April 2023. The exhibition will be held at the four of the City churches in June 2023 and shared online as a lasting legacy of the project. This project forms part of the Wren300 Square Mile Churches programme which is being undertaken by the London Diocesan Fund and partly funded by The National Lottery Heritage Fund.

Wren300 Exhibition

Posted on: October 19th, 2022 by wrenEditor

An exhibition from the Trinity Archives will tell the story of Wren’s relationship with College President Ralph Bathurst, and his role in the restoration of Trinity’s fortunes through the impact of his magnificent buildings.

Visitors will be able to explore the evolution of Wren’s free-standing Garden Quad building as it exists today. Materials on display will include an original ‘unbuilt’ Wren design; a bantering 1665 letter from Wren grumbling about where his building was to stand, and some of the original workmen’s equipment discovered beneath the floor during the 2017 Chapel restoration.