Francis Penrose

Francis Cranmer Penrose ( born October 29, 1817 in Bracebridge at Lincoln; † February 15, 1903 in Wimbledon ) was an English architect and archaeologist.

As one of the first researchers detected and studied at the temples of classical Greece the Entasis ( the slight swelling of column shafts ) and the curvature ( the uniform straight horizontal lines). His individual observations, which sometimes other researchers had already reached, it led to a comprehensive theory together with the architectural refinements of Greek architecture, which was published in 1851. These various refinement means that now seem a core issue of ancient architectural history.

As Inspector of St Paul 's Cathedral, he created from 1852 to multiple pieces of equipment of the church and examined by excavation, the dimensions of the previous medieval building.

When in 1882 the establishment of the British School at Athens, it was decided in Athens, he designed the building in Athens. From 1886 to 1887 he was the first director of the British School at Athens, a second time he stood in front of the Institute from 1890 to 1891.

Since 1894 he was a member of the Royal Society for his contributions to astronomy.

Writings (selection )

• Two Letters from Athens, on Certain Anomalies in the Construction of the Parthenon. London 1847.
• An Investigation of the Principles of Athenian Architecture, or, The Results of a Recent Survey Conducted chiefly with reference to the Optical Refinements Exhibited in the Construction of the Ancient Buildings at Athens, edited by the Society of Dilettanti. London 1851 2nd edition: London 1888 digitized ( HEIDI ).