Page:Library Construction, Architecture, Fittings, and Furniture.djvu/264

240 used in the façade and two sides is a greyish-white granite, sprinkled with a delicate pink. The rear wall, overlooking the Medical School, is of brick. The front, looking over Copley Square, is two storeys in height, the lower being of rusticated masonry, with conspicuous joints, the upper arcaded with thirteen window arches (Fig. 111). Above is a rich cornice and a purple-tiled roof. The building rests upon a broad granite platform, forming a side walk, with low posts at intervals along the edge. It extends entirely round the three street sides, and is six steps high in front of the main entrance.

The entrance is in the centre, by three arched doorways, to be flanked on either side by bronze statuary now being designed by Mr. A. St. Gaudens. Each arch is fitted with wrought iron gates, and appropriately above the centre one is the inscription " Free to All."

A similar row of arcaded arches to that in the front is extended along the Boylston Street frontage, and half-way along the Blagden Street facade. There are thirty of these great window arches, all alike in general effect and ornamentation. The central three on the front side contain below the windows sculptured panels, with the seals of the Library, City, and State. Similar panels in the remaining twenty-seven are filled with memorial tablets containing the names of great authors, statesmen, artists, scientists, and soldiers. In the spandrils of each window-arch is a series of medallions, thirty-three in all, on which the printers'-marks or trade-devices of celebrated printers and booksellers have