Main Reading Room, Library of Congress |
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From the Visitor's Gallery, eight large white statues can be seen above the giant marble columns that surround the Main Reading Room. They represent eight categories of knowledge, each considered symbolic of civilized life, and thought: Philosophy, Art, History, Commerce, Religion, Science, Law, and Poetry. Beneath them sixteen bronze statues set along the balustrade of the galleries represent men renowned for their accomplishments. The bronze statues are paired, each pair flanking one of the eight large planter statues. The name of each bronze figure is inscribed on the wall directly behind it. On large tablets high above each symbolic statue, are inscriptions appropriate to the subject. The Main Reading Room services what is called the general collection, the widest range of subjects of a general nature. Each of the other twenty reading rooms supports specific subject matter or formats such as Geography and Map, Prints and Photographs, Manuscripts, Hispanic history, Rare Books, and Eastern European history. Carol Highsmith, the distinguished photographer, has comprehensively photographed the interior of the Thomas Jefferson building and along with much of her other work, has donated them to the Library of Congress. Medium : 1 color tiff file Created/Published : 2007 Creator : Carol Highsmith, photographer, 1946 - Forms part of the Carol Highsmith Archive and is housed in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library of Congress Availability: Special order: ships in 3-4 weeks Product #: 21604071 |
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