. Bulletin - United States National Museum. Science. KL I-). .Si. b. RLH .^S in , w; Ij showing in the background tlie ruins of the While House. (Phutu courtesy Library of Congress.) On December 23, Latrobe wrote that the lamps received "give great satisfaction to Mr. and Mrs. Madison and permit me to add at a proper distance to myself although I cannot say that I admire the mixture of Egyptian, Grecian, and Birmingham taste which characterizes ; " Here, he must refer to those for the new drawing room, as he adds that on
. Bulletin - United States National Museum. Science. KL I-). .Si. b. RLH .^S in , w; Ij showing in the background tlie ruins of the While House. (Phutu courtesy Library of Congress.) On December 23, Latrobe wrote that the lamps received "give great satisfaction to Mr. and Mrs. Madison and permit me to add at a proper distance to myself although I cannot say that I admire the mixture of Egyptian, Grecian, and Birmingham taste which characterizes ; " Here, he must refer to those for the new drawing room, as he adds that one of the two branch lamps ''leaks so exceedingly as to have spoiled a crimson velvet cushion of one of the ; Now all that was needed to complete the room was the floor covering. That, too, was provided by John Rea, whose bill to Latrobe under date of December 27, 1810, records the following: -" To making up iGq yds of Brussels carpt. To 169 yds of carpi. Brussels 2 75 33-80 4*H- 75 '" Latrobe papers, letter no. 389. -" National Archives, record group 217, General Accounting Office, Miscellaneous Treasury Accounts, account , voucher 11. To 30 yds of Border 2 75 82. 50 To I Large Harth ruge to match 24. 00 The room was furnished in time for the President's reception on New Year's Day, IHld. The final effect was apparently worth the time and money lavished on it, for contemporary accounts speak of the elegance and beauty of the room. With completion of the Oval Room, the collaboration of DoUey Madison and Benjamin Latrobe in furnishing the White House drew to a close. They never had the funds to deco- rate the East Room; it is left to our imagination to visualize this great ballroom done in the classical style. Other interior work in the house during the Madison administration had included converting the oflice, formerly used by the private secretary, into a room to be used for Cabinet meetings. Latrobe also closed off the west windows in the librar
Size: 2157px × 1158px
Photo credit: © Book Worm / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
Keywords: ., bookauthorun, bookcentury1800, bookdecade1870, booksubjectscience
