Jump to content

File:WrenLibraryInterior.jpg

Page contents not supported in other languages.
This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Original file (1,247 × 809 pixels, file size: 240 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg)

The interior of the Wren Library, Cambridge (Trinity College), looking towards the window at the south end.

The library was designed by Christopher Wren and completed in 1695, although the coffered ceiling was only finished to Wren's design in the 19th Century. Wren's major inovation was to fill the library with light coming through the rows of tall windows lining the east and west walls. The windows are positioned above the book stacks in order to maximise the available wall space for storing books.

The ends of the bookcases sport intricate carvings by Grinling Gibbons in the lighter limewood, whilst on top of each bookcase are plaster casts of busts notable writers through the ages. The marble busts standing on plinths are mostly by Louis-François Roubiliac and represent famous fellows of Trinity College from the 17th and 18th century.

The stained glass south window shows Isaac Newton being received by George III accompanied by Francis Bacon. The window was designed by Giovanni Battista Cipriani in 1774 and constructed by Peckitt of York.

Below the south window is a full length marble statue of Lord Byron by Bertel Thorvaldsen

Today the library contains several display cases containing some of the college's most treasured books, including Newton's own copy of Philosophiae Naturalis Principia Mathematica and A. A. Milne's autograph copy of Winnie-the-Pooh.


Photograph © Andrew Dunn, 5 November 2004.
Website: http://www.andrewdunnphoto.com/
I, the copyright holder of this work, hereby publish it under the following license:
w:en:Creative Commons
attribution share alike
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 2.0 Generic license.
You are free:
  • to share – to copy, distribute and transmit the work
  • to remix – to adapt the work
Under the following conditions:
  • attribution – You must give appropriate credit, provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
  • share alike – If you remix, transform, or build upon the material, you must distribute your contributions under the same or compatible license as the original.

Captions

Add a one-line explanation of what this file represents

Items portrayed in this file

depicts

image/jpeg

File history

Click on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time.

Date/TimeThumbnailDimensionsUserComment
current23:01, 12 September 2006Thumbnail for version as of 23:01, 12 September 20061,247 × 809 (240 KB)Solipsist~commonswikiThe interior of the Wren Library, Cambridge, looking towards the window at the south end. The library was designed by Christopher Wren and completed in 1695, although the coffered ceiling was only

Global file usage

The following other wikis use this file:

Metadata