The Sheldonian Theatre
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Architecture and Learning in Seventeenth-Century Oxford
Anthony Geraghty
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Format: ClothPrice: $45.00
A jewel of the University of Oxford, the Sheldonian Theatre stands out among the groundbreaking designs by the great British architect Sir Christopher Wren. Published to coincide with the 350th anniversary of the building’s construction, this meticulously researched book takes a fresh look at the historical influences that shaped the Sheldonian’s development, including the Restoration of the English monarchy and the university’s commitment to episcopal religion.
The book explains just how novel Wren’s design was in its day, in part because the academic theater was a building type without precedent in England, and in part because the Sheldonian’s classical style stood apart in its university context. The author also points to a shift in the guiding motivation behind the architecture at Oxford: from a tradition that largely perpetuated medieval forms to one that conceived classical architecture in relation to late Renaissance learning. Newly commissioned photographs showcase the theater’s recently restored interior.
Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art
“It is a handsome volume, supplied with many striking images of its subject, including superb interior shots by John Cairns. The elegantly written book is far from being popular history, though, with its concentration on the religious and political influences that shaped the building’s development and a highly detailed exposition of the architectural principles applied in its construction.”—Chris Gray, The Oxford Times
—Richard Hewlings, Burlington Magazine.
Publication Date: October 8, 2013
Publishing Partner: Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art
45 color + 22 b/w illus.
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