The gallery is framed by two large murals over its doorways, The
Arts mural and The Sciences mural both by Kenyon Cox
(1856-1919).
The ceiling, twenty nine feet high with square coffers in blue and gold,
is divided by ribs that spring from the paired pilasters. The medallions
with the letters "C.L." stand for "Congressional Library," the name by
which the Library of Congress was still popularly known when the new
building was first opened in 1897.
The Arts
In The Arts mural the central throne is occupied by Poetry,
represented as a young and beautiful woman crowned with laurel and
bearing a lyre. On the steps are two winged figures of genius, one
writing down Poetry's words on a tablet and the other raising his arms
as he joins the rhythmical swing of her song. On the left are
Architecture and Music, and on the right Sculpture and Painting-all
typified by female figures bearing an object identifying the art they
represent.
In The Sciences mural, Astronomy is the central figure. She
holds a pair of compasses and leans forward on her throne to make
measurements upon the celestial globe that a winged figure of genius
holds up before her. Another genius to the right looks through a
telescope. On the left are Physics and Mathematics, and on the right
Botany and Zoology - all typified by female figures bearing an object
identifying the science they represent.
The ceiling, twenty nine feet high with square coffers in blue and
gold, is divided by ribs that spring from the paired pilasters. The
medallions with the letters "C.L." stand for "Congressional Library,"
the name by which the Library of Congress was still popularly known
when the new building was first opened in 1897.
