AIC: Franke Reading Room

The Franke Reading Room..
of the Ryerson & Burnham Libraries..
Originally two separate libraries, the Ryerson Library and the Burnham Library of Architecture, the two merged in 1957.

The Franke Reading Room, the original Ryerson Library, was designed by the Boston firm Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge, at a former courtyard in 1893..
The skylight was designed by Louis J. Millet..
The decorative color scheme was designed by Elmer Garnsey..
In 1994, the Reading Room went through extensive restoration by the John Vinci..
The names of sixteen significant writers on the history of art and architecture circle the Reading Room in the entablature area below the skylight..
The bronze centerpiece sculpture "Teucer, Brother of Ajaz" [1884].. is made by William Hamo Thornycroft..




















For more on.. [click on the link]..
# AIC: Franke Reading Room..
# AIC: Franke Reading Room: Stained Glass Ceiling ..
# AIC: Franke Reading Room: Teucer - By William Hamo Thornycroft..
# AIC: The Art Institute of Chicago..

AIC: Franke Reading Room - Stained Glass Ceiling

Continued from the above post on Franke Reading Room at the Art Institute of Chicago [AIC]..

The central skylight stained glass ceiling was designed by Louis Millet..
It was restored during the 1990's by the architect John Vinci..











For more on.. [click on the link]..
# AIC: Franke Reading Room..
# AIC: Franke Reading Room: Stained Glass Ceiling ..
# AIC: Franke Reading Room: Teucer - By William Hamo Thornycroft..
# AIC: The Art Institute of Chicago..

AIC: Franke Reading Room [Teucer - By William Hamo Thornycroft]

Teucer, Brother of Ajex..
By William Hamo Thornycroft
1884
Location: Library Reading Room
at the Art Institute of Chicago..







For more on.. [click on the link]..
# AIC: Franke Reading Room..
# AIC: Franke Reading Room: Stained Glass Ceiling ..
# AIC: Franke Reading Room: Teucer - By William Hamo Thornycroft..
# AIC: The Art Institute of Chicago..

The Art Institute of Chicago: Coffered Ceiling

The Art Institute of Chicago..
There is so much to see at the AIC, that one easily overlooks the beautiful coffered ceiling at the entrance.. [Michigan Avenue entrance]..
Designed by Shepley, Rutan and Coolidge of Boston, Massachusetts..
For the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition as the World's Congress Auxiliary Building..





For more on.. [click on the link]..
The Art Institute of Chicago...

AIC: Planters with Bucrania

The Art Institute of Chicago [AIC}
I had long wondered what these skulls are..
These are called Bucranium, pural is bucrania..
which is Greek for "the skull of an ox".





Note how the lion "on prowl", has left behind the skulls of oxen..
Here are some more planters at AIC, with classic decorations..
Maybe I just needed an excuse to post flower images..

For more on.. [click on the link]..
The Art Institute of Chicago...

AIC: Freizes and Sculptural Ornamentation..

Art Institute of Chicago..
Freizes and Sculptural ornamentation..
Freizes are by Philip Martiny..
The question is.. Are they symbolic?
If yes, what do they represent?

AIC: freizes [South Facade]

Freizes on the south facade of the AIC building..
By Philip Martiny..
Are these symbolic or just decorative??
Any information on these freizes are WELCOME!!!
Below are details from left to right..
Click on any image for an enlarged view..
And please do not use these images without written permission..











For more on.. [click on the link]..
The Art Institute of Chicago...

AIC: freizes [North Facade]

Freizes on the north facade of the AIC building..
By Philip Martiny..
Are these symbolic or just decorative??
Any information on these freizes are WELCOME!!!
Below are details from left to right..
Click on any image for an enlarged view..
And please do not use these images without written permission..