Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

WREN'S COLONNADE 11
V
In strange contrast to the rooms of Wolsey, without
and within, is the colonnade built by Wren on the
south side of the court. Even the most loyal admirers
of the great man's work may be pardoned if they
regret its conjunction with the late domestic Gothic
and the Perpendicular windows to south, east, and
north. Seven Ionic columns, entablature, balustrade,
every classic adornment which may cheerfully consort
with William III. in a toga and a laurel wreath, or
George II. disguised as a Roman general, are hardly in
keeping with the great hall of Henry VIII. But the
colonnade in itself is stately, graceful, perfectly proportioned.
Some entrance there must be to the great
staircase, which is a magnificent example of the great
master's power.
The contrast with the old work is carefully made as
little offensive as possible. Wren might have built a
complete Palladian facade. He preferred to give as
little ofnew work as he could. Historical continuity,
indeed, can only be obtained at a price;and we may be
thankful that the continuous occupation of Hampton
Court for three centuries has given us no more abrupt
contrasts than this.
Of the details of the court much might be said,
but the artist can best picture them. The great
astronomical clock itself, dated 1540, and made for