Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Stairway Ceiling Decorations  (Frontpage)  (More on the MFA)  (What's New)  (Thumbnails Index)  (Refer This Site)

  
Atlas and the Hesperides - step closer Hercules and the Hydra Orestes - step closer Apollo in His Chariot with the Hours - step closer The Winds - step closer Chiron and Achilles - step closer Phaehon - step closer Perseus on Pegasus Slaying Medusa The Danaides - step closer The Rotunda Apollo in His Chariot with the Hours - Step closer The Winds - Step closer Perseus on Pegasus Slaying Medusa - Step closer Atlas and the Hesperides - Step closer Chiron and Achilles - Step closer - Step closer The Rotunda Dome - Step closer Orestes -- Step closer Phaethon -- Step closer Hercules and the Hydra -- Step Closer The Danaides -- Step closer Men Racing Men_Racing Bas-relief of two classical male figures Bas-relief of two classical male figures Figures Foliage and Urns Figures Foliage and Urns   

View looking up at ceiling
Side Aisle murals arranged with tops facing to center
 (Click on each artwork to Step Closer)
 
Colonnade Stairway Decorations
Facing front and Library,
looking straight up
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Ruth and Carl J. Shapiro Rotunda and Colonnade
Photo
Jpg: sargentmurals.bpl.org
 
 

The visitor is approximately in the middle of the Grand Stairs, facing down and we are looking straight up. At the top of the image is the Rotunda.

The bottom of the photo is towards the museum front entrance and second level Library. The mural at the bottom, however, is not flat to the ceiling but vertical on a wall. This photograph is taken with a wide angle lens. This mural, called "The Danaïdes," is in a lunette (a semi-circled/arched area) which decorates the entrance to the library. The stairway is actually an open atrium type space that encompasses two floors.

Museum Library
Museum Library Entrance

If we were to continue down the stairs and then turn around to face back up and in, we would see the Grand Stairway as shown below.


Grand Stairway
Looking up towards the Rotunda


The Rotunda
From the top of the Grand Stairway


Rodunda Dome Decorations
Looking straight up

 
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Notes: 

 


 
 

By:  Natasha Wallace
Copyright 1998-2005 all rights reserved
Created 10/16/2003