
The immaculate Library room at the Morgan Library. Photo courtesy of some blog about pianos in Argentina.
Part historic building (and National Landmark since 1966), part modern-day masterpiece, the Morgan Library and Museum is, in a word, ornate. From the murals and tile in J.P. Morgan’s Entrance Rotunda, to the books in the multi-floor library (including three Gutenberg Bibles – the Biblical collection alone takes up at least two bookshelves), to the works of art in the collection, to the new Renzo Piano-designed entry building.
This (along with their international recognition as a museum of merit) allows the Morgan to put on pretty amazing exhibits. When I (along with my friend Kelly Cordray, who I mentioned earlier in my post on my favorite sandwiches, discussing hot dogs – she actually talked me out of having a hot dog on the way to the Morgan) went to the museum, there was a (since closed) collection of letters from J.D. Salinger to the book jacket artist for Catcher in the Rye (spoiler alert: they’re kind of depressing), a drawings exhibit on Raphael and his contemporaries (an incredible opportunity to view some great Renaissance works), and a presentation of the Magna Carta.
Being a history buff, I went for the Magna Carta – although I saw a different copy in October at the Fraunces Tavern Museum (a trip on which I passed out from either lack of hydration or low blood sugar, making it all the more memorable) – and, while I don’t know much Latin (other than discerning a few words and phrases from roots I know and stuff I’ve picked up from the Latin scholars in my life), I know it’s important. I highly recommend you check out this bastion of rights and freedoms before it goes back to England May 30th.
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