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We had the opportunity to visit the Boston Public Library after dropping off a care package for our daughter who goes to school in the city and is doing a co-op/internship this summer. The BPL McKim Building was constructed between 1888 and 1895 and incorporates interesting artwork and structural details that I did not appreciate when visiting the library in my teens when researching/writing high school reports... I recently found out while doing genealogical research that a 3rd great uncle was the chief engineer of the library during construction and operation, incorporating architectural design features such as passages behind walls to ensure temperature and humidity equilibration in front of and behind the artwork.
The building has a grand staircase that is adorned with murals painted by French painter Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. The view from the center landing is below and shows two Lion statues dedicated to two Massachusetts Infantry companies who volunteered to fight in the American Civil War. The large mural on the second floor is Purvis's The Muses of Inspiration Welcoming the Spirit of Light.
The view from the 2nd floor is shown below. My 14 mm UWA cannot capture a photo of all the artwork adorning the staircase.
The eight murals in the staircase represented different disciplines that could be pursued in the library. The four murals below represent (l to r) Philosophy, Astronomy, History, and Chemistry.
The other wall contains murals for Physics, Pastoral Poetry, Dramatic Poetry, and Epic Poetry.
At the top of the staircase is the library's main reading room, Bates Hall. It is an impressive room with a 50-foot high barrel vault ceiling.
The building has a grand staircase that is adorned with murals painted by French painter Pierre Puvis de Chavannes. The view from the center landing is below and shows two Lion statues dedicated to two Massachusetts Infantry companies who volunteered to fight in the American Civil War. The large mural on the second floor is Purvis's The Muses of Inspiration Welcoming the Spirit of Light.
- Canon EOS R5
- RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM
- 14.0 mm
- ƒ/8
- ISO 1600
The view from the 2nd floor is shown below. My 14 mm UWA cannot capture a photo of all the artwork adorning the staircase.
- Canon EOS R5
- RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM
- 14.0 mm
- ƒ/8
- ISO 1600
The eight murals in the staircase represented different disciplines that could be pursued in the library. The four murals below represent (l to r) Philosophy, Astronomy, History, and Chemistry.
- Canon EOS R5
- RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM
- 23.0 mm
- ƒ/8
- 1/40 sec
- ISO 1600
The other wall contains murals for Physics, Pastoral Poetry, Dramatic Poetry, and Epic Poetry.
- Canon EOS R5
- RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM
- 26.0 mm
- ƒ/8
- 1/40 sec
- ISO 1600
At the top of the staircase is the library's main reading room, Bates Hall. It is an impressive room with a 50-foot high barrel vault ceiling.
- Canon EOS R5
- RF14-35mm F4 L IS USM
- 14.0 mm
- ƒ/11
- ISO 1600
