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| Keywords: LoC-TJ-Great-Hall-from-2nd-floor-Highsmith.jpeg LargeImage Great Hall View from the second floor west corridor Library of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building Washington D C Once in the Great Hall you will be able to appreciate the grandeur of the architecture The ceiling 75 feet above the marble floor is decorated with stained glass skylights supported by elaborately paneled beams finished in aluminum leaf In the center of the marble floor is a large brass inlay shaped like a sun on which are inscribed the four cardinal points of the compass Bordering the sun on four sides are round medallions with 12 brass inlays representing the signs of the zodiac In niches on the west side of the hall are two bronze masks formerly used as drinking fountains On the east side is the Commemorative Arch leading back to the Main Reading Room pictured in the image on the right Inscribed into the frieze above are the words Library of Congress Above that flanked by eagles is a tablet with the names of the engineers and architects who were responsible for the design and construction of the Jefferson Building Image of the detail on one staircase in the Library of Congress' Great HallTwo grand staircases that display the work of sculptor Philip Martiny flank the Great Hall one of these staircases is shown in the image to the left Upon the newel post at the base of the railing of each staircase stands an unnamed larger-than-life-size bronze female figure holding aloft a torch Be sure to look closely at the marble figures carved into the outside of the railings These putti or small children complete with the tools of their trade represent the various occupations habits and pursuits of modern life a musician with lyre and music book; an electrician holding a telephone; and an entomologist with specimen box and butterfly net; among others Note especially the two figures flanking globes halfway up the staircase on each side On the south side of the hall are represented Africa and America with those continents shown on the globe between them; on the north side are Europe and Asia Much of the preceding text is derived from the http //www loc gov/jefftour/firstfloor html Library of Congress's virtual tour of the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building Library of Congress Prints Photographs Division LC-DIG-highsm-01968 original digital file http //memory loc gov/master/pnp/highsm/01900/01968u tif uncompressed archival TIFF version 175 MiB converted to JPEG quality level 88 with the GIMP 2 6 7 1896 Building and artwork designed and built 1896 by various architects and artists Photographed 2007 by Carol Highsmith 1946 “ who explicitly http //www loc gov/rr/print/res/482_high html placed the photograph in the public domain No known restriction on publication LOC-image highsm 01968 PD-old PD-Highsmith Interior of Thomas Jefferson Building Arch portals Halls Photographs by Carol M Highsmith Philip Martiny | ||||
