Download or read book The Lives of the Most Eminent British Painters, Sculptors and Architects. 2. Ed Volume 4 written by Allan Cunningham and published by Rarebooksclub.com. This book was released on 2013-09 with total page 94 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1831 edition. Excerpt: ... many places patching would not do. The roof was too heavy, and by a continual pressure against the abutments had pushed the chief pillars, though eleven foot diameter, six inches out of the perpendicular; it therefore required removal. The tower from summit to foundation was a continued cluster of deformities which no partial changes could alter into elegance; and little seemed sound and good and worthy, save the Corinthian portico built by Inigo Jones, " which being," says Wren, " an entire and excellent piece, gave great reputation to the work in the first repairs, and occasioned fair contributions." He therefore counselled that the restoration should commence by converting the tower into a dome, of which he had prepared the plans. " This will be an absolute piece," he continues, "of itself--will make by far the most splendid appearance; may be of present use for the auditory--make all the external repairs perfect, and become an ornament to his majesty's most excellent reign, to the Church of England, and to this great city, which it is a pity in the opinions of our-neighbours should longer continue the most unadorned of her bigness in the world." Some of the clerical commissioners, however, refused their sanction to the removal of the Gothic tower as well as to the change of the roof, and the architect, in order to increase his own knowledge in art, and give those authorities leisure to grow unanimous, passed into France. This was in the year 1665. " He visited France," says Walpole, " and unfortunately went no farther. The great number of drawings he made there from their buildings had but too visible influence on some of his own; but it was so far lucky for Sir...