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Ceiling, Library [of Congress, main reading room, Washington, D.C] – Antique Wall Art

Ceiling, Library [of Congress, main reading room, Washington, D.C], [between 1918 and 1920] — historic photograph
Ceiling, Library [of Congress, main reading room, Washington, D.C], [between 1918 and 1920]. Historic photograph from the Library of Congress collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

This historic photograph of Ceiling, Library [of Congress, main reading room, Washington, D.C] brings a moment of history to your wall. The original is held by the Library of Congress, so what you hang is a true record of its time.

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Ceiling, Library [of Congress, main reading room, Washington, D.C]

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The ceiling of the main reading room in the Thomas Jefferson Building is the subject here, captured on a 4 by 5 inch glass negative made by the National Photo Company between about 1918 and 1920. The library opened in 1897 and its interior was meant to showcase American art and learning, so its ceilings and murals were as deliberate as its shelves. Ornate painted and gilded decoration spread across these vaults, reflecting the Beaux-Arts taste of the era. The negative shows some streaks and blemishes from the natural decay of its original coating, which adds a sense of age to the view.

Created / published[between 1918 and 1920]
Medium1 negative : glass ; 4 x 5 in. or smaller
GenreGlass negatives.
NotesTitle from unverified data provided by the National Photo Company on the negatives or negative sleeves. Date from negatives in same range. Gift; Herbert A. French; 1947. This glass negative might show streaks and other blemishes resulting from a natural deterioration in the original coatings. Temp. note: Batch one.
SubjectsLibrary of Congress Thomas Jefferson Building (Washington, D.C.) Murals. Libraries. Ceilings. Architectural decorations & ornaments. United States--District of Columbia--Washington (D.C.)
SourceLibrary of Congress, National Photo Company Collection
Original scan5,263 × 4,251 px · prints to 18 × 14 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-NPC-229468

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