Crowded Scenes of Horizon-Busting Buildings

JF Ptak Science Books  Daily Dose from Dr. Odd     

   

Dr. Odd presents these two fine images as part of the developing series Stuff Blocking the Horizon.  The first image is a superb photo montage by Paul Citroen (1896-1983), called Metropolis--complex, controlling, massively detailed, and beautiful. 

[Paul Citroen, Metropolis, 1923.]

The second image is another montage of the architectural works of Sir Christopher Wren (1632-1723)

Wren was a complete package, working in many different fields at a high level. His great and polymathic genius fiend Robert Hooke said of Wren ""Since the time of Archimedes there scarce ever met in one man in so great perfection such a mechanical hand and so philosophical mind"--which was very true. In any event this image (from The Illustrated London News) shows the buildings designed by Wren, all of which are dominated by St. Paul's (on Ludgate Hill), which was probably the greatest of his works and perhaps still the Great Masterpiece of the city of London (and where Wren would be buried).

Photographs of the Wren buildings (courtesy via Wikipedia):

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  Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford University

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  Interior, Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford University

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  Tom Tower, Christ Church, Oxford University

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  St. Paul's Cathedral, west front

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  St. Paul's Cathedral, north side with the Chapter House (also by Wren)

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  St. Paul's Cathedral, south transept & dome

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  The Lantern, St. Paul's Cathedral

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  Top of north-west tower, St. Paul's Cathedral

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  The nave of St. Paul's Cathedral

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  St. Paul's Cathedral, interior of the dome

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  Temple Bar London

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  Library, Trinity College, Cambridge University

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  Library, Trinity College, Cambridge University, from the river

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  Library interior, Trinity College, Cambridge University

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  Marlborough House, Westminster as designed by Wren

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  Marlborough House, Westminster as altered

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  Hampton Court Palace, south front

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  Hampton Court Palace, east front

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  Kensington Palace, south front

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  Royal Hospital Chelsea, south front

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  Royal Hospital Chelsea, The Chapel

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  Royal Hospital Chelsea, Dining Hall

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  Greenwich Hospital, north front

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  Greenwich Hospital, Painted Hall

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  Greenwich Hospital, the Dome, Painted Hall

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  St. Bride's Fleet Street, spire

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  St. Mary-le-Bow, steeple

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  St. Mary-le-Bow, interior

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  St Benet's Paul's Wharf

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  St. Margaret Pattens

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  St. Lawrence Jewry

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  St. Mary Abchurch, interior of dome

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  St. Mary Abchurch

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  St. Peter Upon Cornhill

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  St. Stephen's Walbrook, exterior

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  St. Stephen's Walbrook, interior

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  Christchurch, Newgate St

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  St. Magnus-the-Martyr, steeple

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  St. Magnus-the-Martyr, interior

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  St. Vedast Foster Lane

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  St. James Piccadilly

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  St. James Piccadilly, interior

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  St. Clement Danes

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  St. Clement Danes, interior

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  St. Martin within Ludgate

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  The Monument to the great fire of London

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  Emmanuel College, Cambridge University, the Chapel

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  The Royal Observatory, Greenwich

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  Theatre Royal Drury Lane, demolished

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  Library, Lincoln Cathedral

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  Winslow Hall, Buckinghamshire

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  The Chapel, Pembroke College, Cambridge University

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  The interior looking west, The Chapel, Pembroke College, Cambridge University

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  Windsor Guidhall

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  Sir John Moore Church Of England School, Appleby Magna, Leicestershire

Comments

[Ray Girvan]

This is very cool: very much in the same territory as "capriccio" art, which collates many buildings into the same picture. See Architectural fantasies: http://jsbookreader.blogspot.co.uk/2009/01/architectural-fantasies.html