Art Outside the Box: Library of Congress

When we're in a new city, I always want to check out its artistic treasures. Instead of always turning directly to the museum, I like to look outside of the big white box. After my eyes (and my wallet) have had their fill of art on the wall, I like to seek out lesser known venues. Public spaces always offer a wide variety of art to see, often for free, regardless of what country you are visiting.

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The main building, the Jefferson Building, was completed in 1897. The library has since spread to additional buildings, but the original remains a treat for the architecture enthusiast. Wander the atrium and note every minute detail.

Like much of Washington, the building is highly symbolic, with important 19th century American artists commissioned to decorate the interior. One can only imagine who determined the appropriate themes and how the artists were instructed to complete their commisions. A brief tour of the art by location can be found here.

While none of these works will likely be created by an artist you already know, you are given the chance to discover unknown American heros, such as Elihu Vedder, whose mosaic of Minerva is seen below.

You can see any of these works by this cavalcade of 19th century American artists, for free. The Library of Congress is open to the public six days a week, and is only closed on Sundays and federal holidays. For more information on how to plan your visit, check out their site. You can explore the library on your own, or join a guided tour.

More information:

• Wikipedia entry on the history of the Library of Congress
• Jefferson's Legacy: A Brief History of the Library of Congress
• The Library of Congress Jefferson Building, a 19th Century Neo-Baroque Monument (pdf)

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Art Outside the Box: The Sir John Soane Museum