A handsomely illustrated tribute to the Library of Congress building, published to coincide with its one hundredth anniversary.
Arguably the most beautifully decorated building in the United States, the Library of Congress building (recently renamed the Jefferson Building) is celebrating its one hundredth anniversary this year after an eighty million dollar restoration that returned it to its original state. Designed by John L. Smithmeyer and completed in 1897 at a cost of under seven million dollars, the building is enhanced by the art of over forty sculptors and painters whose ranks include such notables as Herbert Adams, Kenyon Cox, Edward Clark Potter, Louis Saint-Gaudens, and John Quincy Adams Ward. The planning and construction are detailed in John Y. Cole's essay, followed by discussions by Henry Hope Reed, Richard Murray, and Thomas P. Somma of the decorations, paintings, and sculptures. The volume concludes with a study of the restoration by Barbara Wolanin, a chronology, a glossary of architectural and decorative terms, and a biographical dictionary of all the artists, architects, and designers who worked on the building. Throughout, noted photographer Anne Day's color images enhance this splendid book. 150 color and 50 b&w photographs and drawings; foldout diagram
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About the Author
John Y. Cole is a librarian, historian, and director of The Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.
Henry Hope Reed is founder and president of Classical America and is the author of numerous books, including The Golden City and The New York Public Library. He lives in New York City.
Henry Hope Reed is founder and president of Classical America and is the author of numerous books, including The Golden City and The New York Public Library. He lives in New York City.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An inside view of Washington's best kept secret.,
By A Customer
This review is from: The Library of Congress: The Art and Architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building (Hardcover)
As the illustrator of the Jefferson building's overview for the book (pp.276-277), I had the rare privilege of walking through many of the areas of the Jefferson building not open to the public. Entering the Great Hall for the first time, I was caught off guard by its extraordinary beauty. Being a native Washingtonian, I was surprised that such a lavishly decorated structure existed here in Washington, D.C. The overall impression of the interior is more that of the Paris Opera House, than a government building. This beautiful book, with its many photographic details of the interior, allows the reader to recreate that sense of awe that I experienced walking through the entrance. With Anne Day's vivid photos, and the Libary's wonderful history, this book should be a welcome addition to anyone's personal library. Once you see the book, I suspect you may modify your itinerary for your next trip to Washington. This gem of a building is definitely worth a visit.-Doug Stern
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great book and pictures,
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This review is from: The Library of Congress: The Art and Architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building (Hardcover)
The book has a LOT of background information about what the various statues/frescoes/paintings were designed to show and shows the pictures too.
2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
BEAUX ART CLASSIC,
By
This review is from: The Library of Congress: The Art and Architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building (Hardcover)
It's odd that many friends of mine that visit D.C., dont bother seeing this spectacular building. This book does a fine job, through vivid, crisp images and historical text, to impress upon the reader the importance of this famous structure, as a fine architectural set piece and as the nations library. I always love the story of how Jefferson sold his book collection to the library for a ridiculous sum, to settle his always present debts, it was hardly a philanthropic jesture, but then with Jefferson it was always about him anyway, great man in many ways, but deep down a cold narcassist..anyway, getting back to the building, its essentially a copy of the paris opera of Napoleon III's Second Empire, with some changes, but definitly the opera house was the inspiration for this building, Garnier's estate should have demanded royalties it was so close, at any rate, very good book on a most deserving subject, I really cant imagine anyone being disappointed in this book, if they have any interest at all in this building.
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Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
"WE MAY LIVE without architecture, and worship without her," John Ruskin observed a half century before the first Library of Congress building was constructed, "but we cannot remember without her." Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
northwest pavilion, southwest gallery, four lunettes, national library building, northwest gallery, spandrel figures, corrupt legislation, north corridor, figurative panels, east corridor, new library building, commemorative arch, south corridor, mural work, library architecture, mural painters, corner pavilions, west corridor, entrance pavilion Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Library of Congress, Main Reading Room, Great Hall, New York, United States, General Casey, Edward Pearce Casey, Bernard Green, Jefferson Building, Columbian Exposition, Edward Casey, Elihu Vedder, Philip Martiny, Thomas Jefferson, Bela Lyon Pratt, Albert Weinert, Charles Sprague Pearce, American Renaissance, Boston Public Library, Herbert Adams, Ainsworth Rand Spofford, Italian Renaissance, Library Committee, Elmer Ellsworth Garnsey, George Willoughby Maynard New!
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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
"WE MAY LIVE without architecture, and worship without her," John Ruskin observed a half century before the first Library of Congress building was constructed, "but we cannot remember without her." Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
northwest pavilion, southwest gallery, four lunettes, national library building, northwest gallery, spandrel figures, corrupt legislation, north corridor, figurative panels, east corridor, new library building, commemorative arch, south corridor, mural work, library architecture, mural painters, corner pavilions, west corridor, entrance pavilion Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Library of Congress, Main Reading Room, Great Hall, New York, United States, General Casey, Edward Pearce Casey, Bernard Green, Jefferson Building, Columbian Exposition, Edward Casey, Elihu Vedder, Philip Martiny, Thomas Jefferson, Bela Lyon Pratt, Albert Weinert, Charles Sprague Pearce, American Renaissance, Boston Public Library, Herbert Adams, Ainsworth Rand Spofford, Italian Renaissance, Library Committee, Elmer Ellsworth Garnsey, George Willoughby Maynard New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 63
books:
See all 63 books this book cites
- Man as Hero: The Human Figure in Western Art by Pierce Rice in Front Matter, page 187, and Back Matter
- Rhode Island (Hello U.S.A.) by J. F. Warner on page 183, and Back Matter
- New York Public Library: Its Architecture and Decoration (The Classical America series in art and architecture) by Henry Hope Reed in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- On these walls: Inscriptions and quotations in the buildings of the Library of Congress by John Young Cole in Front Matter, and Back Matter
- Abraham Lincoln (Profiles of the Presidents) by Jean F. Blashfield on page 136, and page 137
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