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 150 Architecture in Great Britain. about 1632, when Jones's reputation was at its height. Wren was early distinguished for his mathematical and scientific acquirements. The Great Fire of 1666 opened for him a splendid field as an architect, and to this circum- stance we are indebted for the finest buildings of the metropolis. Within three days of this disastrous confla- gration Wren presented a plan to the king for the rebuild- ing of the whole city. This it was not found practicable to carry out ; but the restoration of St. Paul's Cathedral and of some fifty other churches was entrusted to him. The present cathedral was commenced nine years after the Fire. It is the largest and finest Protestant Cathedral of the world, and thirty-five years were spent in its con- struction. The ground-plan is a Latin cross, with nave, choir, and transepts. It is 500 ft. long from east to west, by about 250 ft. wide at the transepts. The outside of St. Paul's consists of two superposed orders — i. e. one over the other. The western entrance has a portico of twelve Corinthian columns supporting an entablature, from which rise eight Composite columns supporting a second entab- lature, surmounted by a pediment enriched with sculpture. The western towers are about 250 ft. high, decorated with Corinthian columns. The dome is a triple structure. The part seen from the outside springs from a base 250 ft. from the pavement, and the summit is 404 ft. high. Though open to criticism in many of its minor details and arrangements, St. Paul's (Fig. 66) is allowed to stand foremost among buildings of its class in Europe, St. Peter's at Rome alone excepted. Its interior lacks decoration, but its exterior is undoubtedly the most harmonious and imposing composition which Renaissance architecture has yet produced.