Recognise this building? It’s St Martin-in-the-Fields in Trafalgar Square, London.
It also nicely demonstrates the bit of a classical building I want to talk about today – the entablature. This is the horizontal band which sits on top of the supporting columns with their capitals. It often goes up to a roof or a triangular structure known as the pediment. The entablature can be made up of up to three layers: the architrave, the frieze and the cornice.
There are all sorts of rules about which classical patterns go with which style of columns and architectural order – however I think it’s a good thing to keep it simple until the basics are well established in your mind. Look out for entablatures when you are out and about – this porch is a good example.
Happy hunting.
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