 |
Chapter 9
The Building Campaign of 1824
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 |  |
Rotunda Gallery
In late March Brockenbrough informed Jefferson that Dinsmore & Neilson, without
consulting himself or even bothering with a contract for the job, had purchased scantling
and framed the "upper gallery floor" of the library and were set to raise it the next day.
Before the work proceeded any further the proctor wanted Jefferson to consider some
alterations of the interior design of the Rotunda that had struck his mind on "seeing the hight
of the gallery" and which he thought would be an improvement.
to the spring of the arch about 18 ft which gives us more than 4,000 superficial
feet (including the openings) for book cases without going to the upper Gallery
which comes immediately under the roof for another set of cases—and in which
case you would conceal a part of the cieling very much to the injury of the
looks of the room particularly if the cieling should be enritched with sunken
pannel work &c—In the place of the two Galleries I should prefer one on
Columns about ten feet high the entablature to be above the floor in that case
your lower cases would be about ten feet high which could be easily come at
the upper cases about seven feet—the Columns will be smaller and
consequently less expencive & one entire Gallery will be saved there by—if the
weather should be fit they (D & N) will be raising the floor tomorrow, if you
wish time to consider on it, you can direct that part of the business to be
delayed awhile."[609]
Jefferson "maturely" considered the change before rejecting it a day later as offering "no
advantage" over the original plan. Besides the 4,000 square feet area intended for "presses
below the entablature of the columns," Jefferson explained to the proctor, "we can have
another tier of presses above the entablature, of one half more of the space. again instead of
the noble perystyle of the original bearing a proper proportion to the height of vault above, it
proposes a diminutive one of 10. f. height with a vault of 40. f. above. the original peristyle
by it's height & projection from the wall has the advantage of hiding a portion of the vault of
which too much would otherwise be seen. the panneled plaistering makes no difficultie
because it will be divided by cross styles into compartments, and thus adapted to the view."
"Messrs. Nelson & Dinsmore," Jefferson added, "should be warned that if they do any thing
more than what was proposed to be first done, there will be no funds to pay for it."[610]
|
Chapter 9
The Building Campaign of 1824
Documentary History of the Construction of the Buildings at the University
of Virginia, 1817-1828 | |