Library of Congress, the Facade
3 Comments Published by Cedric Benetti on Sunday, January 17, 2010 at 1/17/2010 06:10:00 PM.
The Thomas Jefferson Building, main building of the 3 massive containers built for the library, was constructed in an italian renaissance style between 1890 and 1897 and designed by John L. Smithmeyer who was replaced by his assistant, Paul J. Pelz, who was in turn succeeded by Edward Pearce Casey.
The central block is comparable to the Opéra Garnier in Paris, a similarly ambitious expression of triumphant cultural nationalism in the Beaux-Arts style that had triumphed at the World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago in 1893. On the exterior, sculptured portrait heads that were considered typical of the world's races were installed as keystones on the main storey's window arches.
The front facade bears a replica of the Trevi fountain.
When the Library of Congress building opened its doors to the public on Nov. 1, 1897, it was hailed as a glorious national monument and "the largest, the costliest, and the safest" library building in the world.
Next stop: the Great Hall!
Next stop: the Great Hall!
Labels: Architecture Instant Love, Architecture shot, libraries, Magazines and books, Monuments, photography, Washington DC
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Ho la la... It’s gigantic in size and in… bad taste ! It’s true that between the perpetuation of the Baroque Style of the 18th century and the Second Empire style, the combination is very heavy ! In France, during a long time, we have compared the Second Empire to the summum of bad taste : at their first visit to the Opera Garnier, “people” (!) said “What a bad taste !” and somebody replied “This is the Second Empire !”. Of course, it was also very "subjectif", not a splendid historical reference...
Bonjour! Cedric,
What very interesting photographs of the "Library of Congress, the Facade."
By the way, Colibri, Being an Art History major, I agree with your comment too!
Merci de partager!
DeeDee ;-D