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How did Christopher Wren learn from Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s designs for the Louvre?
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Christopher Wren
Sir Christopher Wren, detail of an oil painting by Sir Godfrey Kneller, 1711; in the National Portrait Gallery, London.
In 1665, while visiting Paris to study the European tradition of classicism, Christopher Wren had the opportunity to meet Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who was then in the city working on designs for the east front of the Louvre Palace. During this encounter, the renowned Italian architect allowed Wren to peruse his drawings. This experience provided Wren with direct exposure to the creative architectural developments occurring at the court of Louis XIV, which significantly informed his later work, including his approach to major projects like St. Paul’s Cathedral.12