Christopher Wren

Considered to be one of the greatest English architects, Christopher Wren, born in 1632, begins his career as a brilliant scientist. Mostly specialised in astrology, but extremely open-minded and curious, he also takes an interest in physiology, physics and mathematics. It is therefore quite natural that he should belong to the founding members of the Royal Society created by Charles II, on his return to the throne of England in 1660. However, around the age of thirty, Christopher Wren is not completely satisfied with his professional orientations even though they are all crowned with success. He is in fact very attracted to architecture especially as he notes the total lack of talented architects in his country, with the exception of Inigo Jones who died ten years previously. It seems to him that this field is not explored as it should be and that science associated to architecture could produce new and interesting results. In order to explore this topic, he then goes to Paris, where work on the Louvre is nearing at an end and that on Versailles is still in progress. He absorbs the architectures that he discovers such as that of the “Sorbonne” or the “Val de Grace”, where he meets the great Italian sculptor Bernini. The tragedy that London experiences with the terrifying fire that ravages the city in 1666, marks the real turning point of his career, as Charles II appoints him member of the commission for the reconstruction of the city.
From that moment on, he dedicates himself completely to architecture and achieves a very personal synthesis between his training as a mathematician and the different artistic movements that appear in Europe. His creations are a combination of his scientific mind, of baroque art, “ the perfection of the orders ” propounded by Palladio and the rigor of French classicism. During the project for the reconstruction of London, he provides plans for over fifty churches conceived in accordance with a longitudinal disposition that encourages predication. If his facades are sober, the bell-towers are more fanciful and give expression to some baroque accents. His major work is the reconstruction of St. Paul's Cathedral from 1675, but Wren who dies aged 89, counts also among his work: Trinity College library in Cambridge, Chelsea hospital in London, the transformations of Hampton Court Palace and the residence of Kensington, to mention but some of his most remarkable achievements.