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Bronze Entrance Doors

The Bronze Work

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HE Library contains notable examples of bronze workers' art. First and foremost among these are the impressive sculptured bronze main doors, standing over fifteen feet in height, depicting in bas-relief the five phases of the ancient Grecian and Roman literature-epic, tragic, lyric, philosophic and comic.

"Mr. Donnelly, the sculptor, gives the following description of the significance of the panels:

GREEK

'Epic: Aged Homer, as a blind bard reciting epic poetry. Tragic: Reception of Aeschylus at court of Hiero, King of Sicily. Lyric: Sappho teaching maidens of her school. Philosophic: Aristotle walking with the young Alexander as he teaches him. Comic: Aristophanes reclining, writing on tablets. Comic mask and pail (capsa) of papyrus rolls by couch.

ROMAN

'Epic: Virgil receiving honors from the Emperor Augustus. Tragic: Seneca teaching the young Emperor Nero at the age of fourteen. Lyric: Horace reading his works to his patron Maecenas. Philosophic (St. Ambrose): The baptism of Augustine at Cassiacum,

Terence, on stool, reading his first play to middle-aged Caecilius, who reclines at dinner.'

"At either side of the main entrance and on the lower steps can be found four large bronze candelabra of exceptional beauty in different designs.

"The bronze main elevator enclosures on the different floors are distinctive in design and striking in their simplicity.

"The five entrances to the Delivery room are surmounted by highly decorative bronze entablatures, the frieze containing the book-marks of different noted publishers. Each entrance is composed of three openings, divided by elaborate bronze pilasters and columns with rich Corinthian capitols. The entire decoration of this bronze is executed in very low relief, of soft and delicate feeling.

"The bronze gates to the driveway entrances are particularly interesting, representing hand-forged work, fashioned after the manner of the craftsmen of the Middle Ages.