Synopses & Reviews
Synopsis
Situated across the street from the United States Capitol, the Thomas Jefferson Building is a Washington landmark and a treasure of American architecture. Home to the Library of Congress, it is one of the most handsomely decorated structures in the United States.
The Library of Congress: An Architectural Alphabet offers a charming illustrated tour of the Library's art, architecture, and sculpture. From A (for arch) to Z (for zigzag), it gives us a look at the Jefferson Building's unusual details -- egg-and-dart molding, helixes, jambs, pilasters, quoins, spandrels, tripods, vaults, and even an X-motif. Illustrations and descriptions are joined by exquisite decorative letters drawn from the Library's collection of rare books and manuscripts.