The architectural detail of the Sheldonian Theatre, though still not commendable, is much in advance of that of Pembroke Chapel; but its completion did not take place until 1669, and Wren had had by then more time for education in correct classical expression. He was thus in some measure prepared both by study and by practical experience when the great opportunity of his life presented itself. The great fire of London broke out in 1666.
Before the embers of the great fire had cooled, Wren, as virtual surveyor-general, had prepared a scheme for the rebuilding of the city. The fire raged from the second to the eighth of September, and during those six days, four hundred and sixty entire streets, eighty-nine churches, and over thirteen thousand houses were swept away. On the twelfth of September, Wren laid before the king a sketch plan of his design for the restoration of the metropolis. It is the plan of what would have become a magnificent city, but the public spirit which would have been required to carry it out would have demanded great sacrifices of present interest for the sake of future benefit; and a more hand-to-mouth expedient was necessarily adopted. But Wren found employment enough in his official capacity in designing, supervising and rebuilding a cathedral, more than fifty parish churches, thirty-six of the Companies' halls, the custom house, beside several private houses and provincial works.
| PLATE LXXXV | INTERIOR, ST. PAUL'S CATHEDRAL: LONDON |
In regard to the Cathedral, Wren gave an unhesitating opinion that nothing but an entirely new structure ought to be contemplated. This advice was not at once taken, but the fall of a part of the Cathedral where repair was being attempted gave convincing proof of the wisdom of his judgment, and in 1668 he was summoned to London from Oxford (where he was still a professor of astronomy) to advise respecting a new edifice. The taking down of the old walls—in which Wren was wonderfully ingenious in inventing devices,—lasted through part of 1668; and in 1673 Wren, who had meantime been knighted, submitted his first design for the new Cathedral,—a design which he himself wrote that he considered "antique and well studied, conformable to the best style of Greek and Roman architecture." The king greatly approved of it, and a commencement of it was actually made, but so much clerical opposition was brought to bear on account of its being different from the usual cathedral shape that Wren was reluctantly obliged to turn his thoughts in another direction; and he proceeded with several trial plans in Gothic form. One of these was accepted, and he was ordered by a royal commission, dated May, 1675, to proceed with it. The authorization was accompanied by the permission to make variations, "rather ornamental than essential"; but happily, as the whole was left to his management, he found himself able to make use of this permission without troubling himself as to the qualification as to essentials.
| THE MONUMENT | LONDON |