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Catalog Data

Sculptor:
Adams, Herbert 1858-1945  Search this
Warner, Olin Levi 1844-1896  Search this
Architect:
Pelz, Paul J.  Search this
Smithmeyer, John L. 1832-1908  Search this
Casey, Edward Pearce 1864-1940  Search this
Architectural firm:
Smithmeyer & Pelz  Search this
Founder:
Jno. Williams, Inc.  Search this
Medium:
Doors: bronze
Culture:
Greek  Search this
Hebrew  Search this
Egyptian  Search this
Type:
Sculptures-Outdoor Sculpture
Sculptures-Door
Sculptures
Owner/Location:
Administered by United States Capitol Architect of the Capitol Washington District of Columbia
Located Library of Congress 10 1st Street, S.E Main Building, front entrance Washington District of Columbia 20540
Date:
1895-1898
Notes:
Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985
Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D.C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, pg. 72-73.
Gurney, George, "Olin Levi Warner (1844-1896): A Catalogue Raisonne of his Sculpture and Graphic Works," Ph.D., University of Delaware, 1978, pg. 886-908, 914.
Small, Herbert, "The Library of Congress: its architecture and decoration," New York: Norton, 1982, pg. 43-44.
Save Outdoor Sculpture, District of Columbia survey, 1994.
Michael Richman, SAAM curatorial assistant, 1967-1969.
Goode, James M., "Washington Sculpture: A Cultural History of Outdoor Sculpture in the Nation's Capitol," Baltimore, MD: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2008, no. 1.25.
Image on file.
Goode, James M., "The Outdoor Sculpture of Washington, D. C., A Comprehensive Historical Guide," Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution Press, 1974, A-24.
JNO WILLIAMS - FOUNDRY - N.Y. / BEGUN BY OLIN L. WARNER WHO DIED MDCCCXCVI/COMPLETED BY HERBERT ADAMS / TRUTH / RESEARCH Founder's mark appears.
The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.
Summary:
One of three sets of double doors topped with a tympanum located at the front entrance to the library. The significance of writing is expressed in the reliefs that appear in the tympanum and on the double doors located on the entrance to the right. Both of the double doors feature full-length draped female figures. One represents Truth and the other represents Research. Truth holds a mirror and a serpent, and Research holds a torch. The tympanum features a mother sitting in the center instructing her two children. Included in the tympanum are various figures, an Egyptian scribe, a Jewish patriarch, a Jesuit with a cross, and a Greek with a lyre, all from literary cultures.
Topic:
Figure group--Family--Mother & Child  Search this
Allegory--Arts & Sciences--Literature  Search this
Allegory--Quality--Truth  Search this
Allegory--Arts & Sciences--Education  Search this
Ethnic  Search this
Occupation--Education--Teacher  Search this
Control number:
IAS 76004801
Data Source:
Art Inventories Catalog, Smithsonian American Art Museums
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_ari_15751