June 30, 2009
I probably wouldn't have gone to this exhibition if I didn't know one of its organisers, but I'd have missed a treat. This is more than just a mathematical history of architecture. It's got a lot of personal touches, and spans an interesting period, growing from the lovely chaotic humour of the middle ages through to the precision of Wren's plans for St Paul's; in short from the first inklings of Architecture to its position as a fully-fledged, disciplined discipline.
The exhibition consists of plans, instruments and portraits, with some information on computers dotted about too. These are noiseless, which we thought was brilliant, so they don't disturb other visitors, and they show things like demonstrations of the instruments. One set of demos is concerned with how to draw things all using relative measurements - with a parallel-line drawer and compasses you can construct a column all in proportion.
As you follow the displays through in historical order you're taken through the transition from drawing to planning. To begin with, back in the early 1500's, the mason would draw a nice picture of the tomb or house for his patron, and the finished article would look totally different. In time things changed, and accurate measurements were used to make scale plans. How did the mason-builders feel about this? Were they pleased to know what they were working to? Or did it remove their autonomy?
One of the loveliest things about the plans on display is the doodling, which makes the subject much more human. I find medieval drawing particularly friendly - the details they've put in speak of people who liked people. One fine plan laid out in a glass case shows a fortification at Hull, drawn in plan view, accurately measured and the rest. But it's early enough that the draughtsman couldn't help himself adding little houses, complete with smoke. It's the same sense of humour as the Très Riches Heures, or the Bayeux Tapestry.
Wren too went in for doodling. He was wrestling with complicated problems - the plans for St Paul's were so complicated that he had to invent new ways of laying them out on paper. As he drew out the three domes (internal, external and brick intermediate, the latter with its curve based on the curve a hanging chain makes, turned upside-down) perhaps doodling some masonry ribbons and wreaths soothed his mind after its feverish calculations.
One drawing by Wren needs a whole animation to explain it. He put on the same plan the front and side elevations, and their footprints, and also the shape of the internal dome. A beautiful piece of computer animation brings this to life, and fits it all together. That's the second computer screen, if you're going chronologically.
In the last room are some beautiful mathematical instruments - early ivory geometry sets, and a thing for drawing perfect spirals which I'd dearly like to play with! The instruments are another link with the humans who inhabit this mathematical subject. Some are dented and worn through frequent use, paid for dearly and then looked-after by some notable men.
You have to work a little harder at this exhibition than I'd like, and I guess it's because really it's to or for, by, with or from academics. For lay people like me it would be useful to have a much bigger timeline, to orientate yourself, larger writing on the labels as the lights have to be dimmed to protect the paper plans, and a bit more pointing out the obvious! The gallery tours probably help there, and so do the gallery attendants, but a bit more "This is unusual because..." or "the thing to notice..." wouldn't go amiss. While I was there a party of French schoolchildren whisked through and I'd be surprised if they took any of it in; some translations of the notices might be appreciated too!
Criticisms aside this is a fascinating exhibition, representing a real shift in the process of design. Perhaps a demonstration of CAD at the end would help to highlight how far we've moved on. The first plans are only preserved by accident - used as binding for the Winchester College dining book. They're a fine soup-stained monument to the beginnings of a very modern discipline.
Compass & Rule is on until September, and admission is free. And a heads up - I hear the Museum is planning an exhibition of Steampunk around Christmas! Watch this space...
The exhibition consists of plans, instruments and portraits, with some information on computers dotted about too. These are noiseless, which we thought was brilliant, so they don't disturb other visitors, and they show things like demonstrations of the instruments. One set of demos is concerned with how to draw things all using relative measurements - with a parallel-line drawer and compasses you can construct a column all in proportion.
As you follow the displays through in historical order you're taken through the transition from drawing to planning. To begin with, back in the early 1500's, the mason would draw a nice picture of the tomb or house for his patron, and the finished article would look totally different. In time things changed, and accurate measurements were used to make scale plans. How did the mason-builders feel about this? Were they pleased to know what they were working to? Or did it remove their autonomy?
One of the loveliest things about the plans on display is the doodling, which makes the subject much more human. I find medieval drawing particularly friendly - the details they've put in speak of people who liked people. One fine plan laid out in a glass case shows a fortification at Hull, drawn in plan view, accurately measured and the rest. But it's early enough that the draughtsman couldn't help himself adding little houses, complete with smoke. It's the same sense of humour as the Très Riches Heures, or the Bayeux Tapestry.
Wren too went in for doodling. He was wrestling with complicated problems - the plans for St Paul's were so complicated that he had to invent new ways of laying them out on paper. As he drew out the three domes (internal, external and brick intermediate, the latter with its curve based on the curve a hanging chain makes, turned upside-down) perhaps doodling some masonry ribbons and wreaths soothed his mind after its feverish calculations.
One drawing by Wren needs a whole animation to explain it. He put on the same plan the front and side elevations, and their footprints, and also the shape of the internal dome. A beautiful piece of computer animation brings this to life, and fits it all together. That's the second computer screen, if you're going chronologically.
In the last room are some beautiful mathematical instruments - early ivory geometry sets, and a thing for drawing perfect spirals which I'd dearly like to play with! The instruments are another link with the humans who inhabit this mathematical subject. Some are dented and worn through frequent use, paid for dearly and then looked-after by some notable men.
You have to work a little harder at this exhibition than I'd like, and I guess it's because really it's to or for, by, with or from academics. For lay people like me it would be useful to have a much bigger timeline, to orientate yourself, larger writing on the labels as the lights have to be dimmed to protect the paper plans, and a bit more pointing out the obvious! The gallery tours probably help there, and so do the gallery attendants, but a bit more "This is unusual because..." or "the thing to notice..." wouldn't go amiss. While I was there a party of French schoolchildren whisked through and I'd be surprised if they took any of it in; some translations of the notices might be appreciated too!
Criticisms aside this is a fascinating exhibition, representing a real shift in the process of design. Perhaps a demonstration of CAD at the end would help to highlight how far we've moved on. The first plans are only preserved by accident - used as binding for the Winchester College dining book. They're a fine soup-stained monument to the beginnings of a very modern discipline.
Compass & Rule is on until September, and admission is free. And a heads up - I hear the Museum is planning an exhibition of Steampunk around Christmas! Watch this space...