- Paperback: 216 pages
- Publisher: Thames and Hudson; illustrated edition edition (May 1 1998)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0500201129
- ISBN-13: 978-0500201121
- Product Dimensions: 21 x 15 x 1.5 cm
- Shipping Weight: 458 g
- Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (1 customer review)
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Amazon Bestsellers Rank:
#1,309,344 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #7 in Books > Professional & Technical > Architecture > Architects, A-Z > Wren, Christopher
- #7 in Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Architects, A-Z > Wren, Christopher
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Product Details |
Product Description
Review
One could not wish for a sounder or more inviting introduction to the subject. -- The Architectural Review
Book Description
Sir Christopher Wren overcame a complete lack of formal training and scant firsthand knowledge of European architecture to become a master of the art. He built nothing before he was 30, but by age 70, his achievements rivaled those of any European architect. This intelligent survey by the late Margaret Whinney includes discussions of Wren's churches and secular buildings--as well as his unexecuted designs. 166 illustrations.
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Most helpful customer reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Place to Start with Wren,
This review is from: World Of Art Series Wren (Paperback)
If you're interested in learning about the work of Christopher Wren, England's most famous architect, Margaret Whinney's classic book is a must. Wren was, of course, a prodigious talent--an intellectual prodigy who started his career as an astronomer and scientist before becoming increasingly interested in architecture in his early 30s. Wren's first commission was the beautiful Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford, and only a few years later he was asked to propose a new design for London's St. Paul's Cathedral. Days later, the majority of the city burned to the ground in London's Great Fire, and Wren was given the responsibility not only of rebuilding St. Paul's but of all London's other churches. Finishing St. Paul's was to take the rest of Wren's long lifetime, but he was still able to complete the many important secular commissions that flowed his way, including the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, the Chelsea Hospital (a home for retired soldiers), and improvements on new construction on an assortment of palaces.In barely over 200 pages--most of those chock-full of helpful photographs, diagrams, and illustrations--Whinney makes clear the arc of Wren's career and the evolution of his ideas and designs. The book is not for someone who knows absolutely nothing about architecture, although I don't know much and I was able to puzzle my way through some of her more dense descriptions with patience and careful attention. But for someone with an amateur interest in architecture, the book is the indispensible, concise, and thorough volume on Wren's professional accomplishments.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews on Amazon.com (beta) Amazon.com:
5.0 out of 5 stars (1 customer review) 7 of 7 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars
The Place to Start with Wren,
By Beth Johnston - Published on Amazon.com
This review is from: World Of Art Series Wren (Paperback)
If you're interested in learning about the work of Christopher Wren, England's most famous architect, Margaret Whinney's classic book is a must. Wren was, of course, a prodigious talent--an intellectual prodigy who started his career as an astronomer and scientist before becoming increasingly interested in architecture in his early 30s. Wren's first commission was the beautiful Sheldonian Theatre at Oxford, and only a few years later he was asked to propose a new design for London's St. Paul's Cathedral. Days later, the majority of the city burned to the ground in London's Great Fire, and Wren was given the responsibility not only of rebuilding St. Paul's but of all London's other churches. Finishing St. Paul's was to take the rest of Wren's long lifetime, but he was still able to complete the many important secular commissions that flowed his way, including the Royal Observatory at Greenwich, the Chelsea Hospital (a home for retired soldiers), and improvements on new construction on an assortment of palaces.In barely over 200 pages--most of those chock-full of helpful photographs, diagrams, and illustrations--Whinney makes clear the arc of Wren's career and the evolution of his ideas and designs. The book is not for someone who knows absolutely nothing about architecture, although I don't know much and I was able to puzzle my way through some of her more dense descriptions with patience and careful attention. But for someone with an amateur interest in architecture, the book is the indispensible, concise, and thorough volume on Wren's professional accomplishments. |
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