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History of the McKim Building: The Gallery Lobbies

A history of the McKim Building at the Boston Public Library with resources about the architects and artists who helped to create the building.

The Gallery Lobbies

The lobby at the south end is decorated in Pompeian red with the decorative elements - masks, torches, sea horses, a lyre and floral designs – also suggesting Pompeii.

At the north end is the Venetian Lobby with sea green and sky blue as the chief colors and the entrance to the staircase to the Sargent Gallery. The Pompeian wall decorations are by Elmer E. Garnsey. The wall painting in the lunette over the alcove window represents the marriage of Venice with the Adriatic Sea. In the niche to the left, the names in gilt are those of the famous doges of Venice; those in the opposite niche are of celebrated Venetian painters.

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The Gallery Lobbies under construction