The Library of Congress: The Art and Architecture of the Thomas Jefferson Building

by John Cole (Editor), Henry Hope Reed (Editor)

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.

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Hardcover

First published December 1, 1997

About the author

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Reviews

[Timons Esaias · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is really THE book on one of the most beautiful buildings in the United States. The main body of the text is an updated version of Herbert Small's Handbook of the New Library of Congress in Washington from 1897, but essays have been added to discuss the history, meaning, and restoration of the building. More importantly, this volume is heavily illustrated, with excellent color plates throughout.

I will suggest that one also consider buying (or borrowing) what amounts to the companion volume to this one, which is Cole & Highsmith's On These Walls: Inscriptions & Quotations in the Library of Congress. And yes, that's the same Cole as co-edited this volume. On These Walls contains many illustrations as well, and they don't overlap all that much. It seems to have been a plan.

Anyway, the book exhaustively discusses the architects, artists and sculptors who created and decorated the Jefferson Building, as the original Library building is now called. In addition, it has good maps of the building, as well as an excellent appendix that lists the terms that crop up everywhere, with a number of drawings or labelled pictures, breaking down all the parts of the complicated decoration. It does that job so well, that this will now be my default reference work on architectural terminology.

Yes, some of the text can be a bit dry; but a definitive reference like this gets five stars. The building deserved a book, it has the book, and I happily read it cover-to-cover.

I was intrigued to note the number of people who worked on the LoC, who also worked on the Carnegie Library, Music Hall, and Museum here in Pittsburgh.

[Andrea Engle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magnificently crafted, visual exploration of the refurbished Thomas Jefferson Building, the earliest of the three buildings comprising the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. ... a collection of several essays concerning the architects, engineers, artists, sculptors, and decorators who created this gem of the American Renaissance, plus extensive notes on the themes, details, and construction practices of the building ... lavishly illustrated ...