The New York Public Library: A Beaux-Arts Landmark

 

In this lavishly illustrated NYPL classic, art historian Ingrid Steffensen traces the history of Carrère & Hastings’s architectural masterpiece, including the recent restoration of its monumental marble facade and decorative embellishments — fountains, attic figures, and pediment groups — to their original Beaux-Arts glory.

 

Designated a National Historic Landmark in 1965, The New York Public Library's Stephen A. Schwarzman Building at Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street is a defining presence in New York City. The building’s exterior ornamentation reflects one of the great artistic collaborations of its era, and every intricate classical detail was hand-carved by artisans trained in old-world techniques. Highlights include the soaring Rose Main Reading Room, one of the largest uncolumned interior spaces in the world; the marble-paneled Celeste Bartos Forum, crowned by a glass and cast-iron dome; the beautifully proportioned Astor Hall; and the stunningly restored Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division.

 

This beautifully designed volume is part of Scala Publishers innovative “Art Spaces” series, which celebrates the architecture of buildings containing the art, design, and culture of the UK, America, Europe, and Asia.