The Finest of Arts
Over a polished tabletop, a student stands on her feet where she examines four large bound books. They rest open to various pages, all of which display the artistic works of the late Richard Avedon. She works on a research paper that analyzes a realm of American art culture; she has come to the right place.
The assortment of books this student scrutinizes is only a grain of sand in comparison to the vast compilation of published works in the Charles Deering Library Art Collection. Students work in silence across the 3rd level of the library, home to Northwestern University’s comprehensive Art Collection for the past 34 years. Over 150,000 volumes, 600 journals and 20 major databases are available to undergraduate and graduate students of the renowned establishment for higher education. Flights of marble stairs, subtly mangled form years of foot traffic, lead to the arched entryway of the library, awaiting open minds.
The location couldn’t be more fitting; a room garnished with artwork and neo-Gothic architecture, erected in 1933, brandishes secular vaulted stained-glass window medallions. Busts sculpted in the 19th century compliment Deering family portraits crafted by an assortment of internationally recognized painters. Art is relevant throughout every niche of the grand space. Eyes wander from the slender bookshelves of detailed wood, to the dimly lit iron chain-linked chandeliers, to the 30-or-so foot ceilings reminiscent of Heaven’s checkerboard.
Cara A. List, Head of the Charles Deering Library Art Collection, is no novice to the rhythm of the narrow shelves that carry the aroma of antique paper. She emits a reticent nature as she leads a student to their destination between shelves L709.1767 to L738.382. Tiptoeing from The Red-Figured Vases of Apulia to The Flowering of Art Nouveau, she weaves in and out between the walkways so tight that one might hold their breath.
The Charles Deering Library Art Collection provides texts of all sizes, languages, and theories. It supports undergraduate and graduate research, as well as the curricular needs of the Art History, and the Art Theory and Practice departments of the university. Students may take advantage of the state-of-the-art space, that features two public reading rooms and research space for Art History faculty and graduate students. The grandiose collection covers fine arts, and art history and theory, including painting, sculpture, architecture, photography, fashion, design and more. Subjects range from ethnic and folk art to comic art and even numismatics.
Whether Monet or Matisse, Hungarian or Hawaiian, the Art Collection is full of artistically cultured artifacts in paper form. They wait readily for selection by the hands of any individual in search of the answer to questions posed by any artistic realm. Like the coveted original artwork that it displays, Northwestern University’s Art collection is a masterpiece.
