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The Lewis J. Warner Memorial: A Brief Guide to Its Art and Architecture

Created by the Students of Latin III

Matt Turner’15, Hannah Kelley’16, Zachary Koulopoulos’16, Samantha Mili’16, Lena Polito’16

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Tom Kates

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The Latin III Students Dedicated this book to

Dr. Timothy J. Markey

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Index

Introduction to Warner......................................IV

The Memorial....................................................VI

The Fresco..........................................................VIII

The Stage............................................................IX

Columns In Warner..............................................X

Glossary................................................................XI

IV

Introduction

Warner Theatre, the masterpiece of Worcester Academy architecture, is the affectionate name on the lips of students and faculty alike. It catches the eye of any visitor, but especially of Latinists, trained, as they are at W. A., to know the orders of classical architecture and their enduring presence and influence in America and Europe. In particular, it combines various elements of Roman and Greek architecture from several periods to create a fascinating blend of styles. The mixture of brick and concrete on the exterior blend the core materials of pre and post Imperial Rome. The interior also subtly blends many of the typical elements of Greek and Roman style. All in all, the use of these elements make Warner a prime example of classical architecture at its best. The exterior of Warner is simple, yet brilliant. It features architraves and acanthus adorned columns. The basic square base builds up to the classic tympanum (triangular section of the facade). The materials used on the outside include both white concrete, and brick. These were two elements of Roman architecture. Brick was commonly used in Rome’s Republican phase. However, Augustus instituted many building projects transforming the city of Rome. He incorporated marble into some of the more important, more expensive buildings. In other projects, he used more concrete. Upon his deathbed, Augustus commented, “Behold, I found a Rome of clay, and leave her to you of marble” (Plutarch). Warner’s exterior is able to capture both elements and incorporates them perfectly into a simple, yet classic, building design.

Worcester Academy

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Once you enter Warner, you will be met with a sudden departure from the classical exterior. Wood paneling is the material used in the walls here. The first doorway into the lobby features an arch over the passage. Architraves and columns are built into the arch. To the right is a side room, featuring simple molding on the ceiling and several more classical elements built in.

The wood paneling used in the room provides stark contrast with the rest of Warner. It is perhaps the only element used that was not a traditional element in original Greek and Roman architecture. Because of this, the room provides the only modern room in the theatre. Despite this, the room still provides a classy, high-end lobby before the theatre opens up to the main hall.

However, the true majesty of the theatre lies with the main hall, a true theater, from the Greek word for ‘a place in which to see.’ The combination of pillars, arches, statues, paintings, and so many other elements create an air akin to that of imperial Rome. Here, we will analyze each of these elements, one by one:

The Main Hall

Tom Kates

Latin III

Latin III

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VI

The Memorial

Warner adds the most charming feeling to the Worcester Academy Campus. The beautiful building stands out the most and can be seen almost anywhere on campus. Inspired by Roman and Greek Architecture the Latin 3 class has taken a great interest in the building. Discovering all the little detailing that brings the building to life. Statues in Warner that are Olympian goddess and columns that are as grand as the ones in Rome.

The facade of the Warner Theater is the first thing viewers see. The full name of the building, incised upon the cross beam of the facade in Roman letters, is The Lewis J. Warner Memorial. The building was donated by the Warner Brother family in memory of their son, who attended WA. The name has meaning, however, that continues inside. Etymologically, a memorial takes us back to the noun from which it is formed, memory, indeed, to Memory, Memoria in Latin, Mnemosyne in Greek, Goddess of Memory. Mnemosyne is the mother of the nine muses. Muses inspire all the arts and sciences, not least music, song, dance, and drama.

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The facade of Warner also showcases four large columns with very detailed capitals, unique and extravagant. The upper part of the column, which is known as the capital it Corinthian style. Corinthian styles are very ornate and have acanthus leaf floral carvings in their capitals. The viewer will also see more styles of columns inside Warner.

Winsor Cobb Design

Latin IIIJohn Trantor

If you look up to the ceiling you can see an elegant portrait. This is called the fresco, and it depicts six citizens gathering around the Greek God Apollo. Apollo is the son of Zeus, and is the Greek “God of prophecy, disease and healing, and the civilized arts: music, poetry, dance”(utexas.ed). Apollo is always depicted as a young man without a beard, wearing a wreath of laurel leaves, and holding some form of literature; as you can see above. Apollo is

giving direction to different demographics of citizens, while pointing to the

Heavens.Also included

inside the Memorial are two statues of the muses. Although there are nine sisters that make up the Greek muses the Warner memorial only contains two of the

sisters. The muses are the Greek goddesses of music, song, dance, and the source of inspiration

for all poets. The muses are included in the Warner memorial because they are the daughters of the Greek goddess Mnemosyne who represents the idea of the personification of memory. Including the muses was the included by the

architect to honor the Warner brothers, and their miraculous life.

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The Fresco

Tom Kates

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Our theatre is based on the “Greek theatre formation”. The orchestra part of our theatre is circular, just as it was for the Greeks. Behind the stage we almost have a “skene”, which was the background building that was connected to the platform of the stage where costumes were stored. Except ours was not a separate building, it was just hidden with curtains. The seats where the audience sit is called the theatron. We also have exits on each side on the theatre, to the Greeks these were called “parodoi” meaning passageways. The

The Stage

Tom Kates

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Through the second set of doors into the main theater you will see tall corinthian Roman columns. They are rounded and up against the wall. The acanthus leaves at the top of these columns are what makes them corinthian.

When you walk in and look to the right of the door in the theater and turn around you see wooden columns. These columns are called a pilaster. Which is used to give the appearance of a supporting column. The flute detailing in the shaft makes this column different from all the others.

This is a Corinthian pilaster. You will see this pilaster when you walk through the second set of

doors. This column is used for small detailing in the theater and makes it look like a support column. In these pictures you can see that it looks like these columns are supporting the pediment which is a triangle structure typically at the top of a building.

Columns in Warner

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Nomina latina de architectura

acanthus, -i, m. “Acanthus leaves are the stylized leaves of the acanthus plant, used in decoration on column capitals of the Corinthian and Composite orders.” arcus, -us, m. arch

caput, capitis, m, capital

columen, -inis, n. support, pillar

corona, -ae, f. lit. “crown,” “cornice” = κορώνη in classical Greek. In arch., the cornice, Vitr. 5, 2; Plin. 36, 24, 59, § 183.

ordo, -inis,, m. a row, line, series, order, rank

plinthus, -i, m. “the large flat member under the inferior moulding of a column.”

porticus, us, f., a portico , colonnade, arcade, gallery

trabs, trabis, f. = “architrave”

tympanum, -i, n. 1. The triangular area of a pediment, Vitr. 3, 3 med.

voluta, -ae, f. a volute or spiral scroll, as an ornament on the capitals of columns, Vitr. 4, 1; 3, 3; 7, 5.

stria, -ae, f. fluting.

oculus, -i, m., literally ‘eye,’ in architecture the depression left by the curve of the fluting.