Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford
The following is taken from a reproduction of the work of leading historian of British architecture and a scholar of astonishing productivity, Sir Howard Colvin.
"Elegant and strong in design, marvellously rich in craftsmanship, the Theatre has admirably served its purpose for over 350 years, and today still provides a dignified and superb setting for ceremonial occasions.
Located in Oxford’s medieval city centre, the Sheldonian Theatre is the principal assembly room of the University, and the regular meeting place of Congregation, the body which controls the University’s affairs. All public ceremonies of the University are performed here, notably the annual Encaenia.
"The University acquired the site soon after the Restoration, and in 1664 to 1669 the present theatre was erected. Gilbert Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury and a former Warden of All Souls, met the entire cost of the build and so gave his name to the building.
Sir Christopher Wren
The architect was a young Christopher Wren, then Professor of Astronomy at Oxford, with as yet little practical experience of building. Inspired by drawings of Roman theatres, he adopted their D-shaped plan. However, the open arena of Rome, unsuited to the English climate, had to be covered.
To do this without introducing load-bearing columns into the central space, which would ruin the resemblance to an ancient theatre, Wren designed a roof truss able to span the required 70 feet, a technical achievement which gained him great credit in scientific and architectural circles and made the roof of the Sheldonian a landmark in roof construction.
From below, this technical ingenuity was, however, concealed from view by the painted ceiling. The painter of the ceiling, Robert Streater, adapted his ambitious baroque composition to Wren’s conception of the building as a Roman theatre open to the sky. The Roman theatres were protected from the sun and rain by a large awning supported by a network of cords. In the Sheldonian these cords are lavishly gilded and in high relief. From them, putti roll back a vast crimson awning, revealing the triumph of the Arts and Sciences over Envy, Rapine and ‘brutish scoffing Ignorance’.
Reproduced with kind permission of the author, Sir Howard Colvin, from The Sheldonian Theatre and the Divinity School (1974).
www.sheldonian.ox.ac.uk/building-history
Sheldonian Theatre, Oxford
The following is taken from a reproduction of the work of leading historian of British architecture and a scholar of astonishing productivity, Sir Howard Colvin.
"Elegant and strong in design, marvellously rich in craftsmanship, the Theatre has admirably served its purpose for over 350 years, and today still provides a dignified and superb setting for ceremonial occasions.
Located in Oxford’s medieval city centre, the Sheldonian Theatre is the principal assembly room of the University, and the regular meeting place of Congregation, the body which controls the University’s affairs. All public ceremonies of the University are performed here, notably the annual Encaenia.
"The University acquired the site soon after the Restoration, and in 1664 to 1669 the present theatre was erected. Gilbert Sheldon, Archbishop of Canterbury and a former Warden of All Souls, met the entire cost of the build and so gave his name to the building.
Sir Christopher Wren
The architect was a young Christopher Wren, then Professor of Astronomy at Oxford, with as yet little practical experience of building. Inspired by drawings of Roman theatres, he adopted their D-shaped plan. However, the open arena of Rome, unsuited to the English climate, had to be covered.
To do this without introducing load-bearing columns into the central space, which would ruin the resemblance to an ancient theatre, Wren designed a roof truss able to span the required 70 feet, a technical achievement which gained him great credit in scientific and architectural circles and made the roof of the Sheldonian a landmark in roof construction.
From below, this technical ingenuity was, however, concealed from view by the painted ceiling. The painter of the ceiling, Robert Streater, adapted his ambitious baroque composition to Wren’s conception of the building as a Roman theatre open to the sky. The Roman theatres were protected from the sun and rain by a large awning supported by a network of cords. In the Sheldonian these cords are lavishly gilded and in high relief. From them, putti roll back a vast crimson awning, revealing the triumph of the Arts and Sciences over Envy, Rapine and ‘brutish scoffing Ignorance’.
Reproduced with kind permission of the author, Sir Howard Colvin, from The Sheldonian Theatre and the Divinity School (1974).
www.sheldonian.ox.ac.uk/building-history