The architectural history of the University of Cambridge, and of the colleges of Cambridge and Eton . Fig. 10. Bookcases and desks in the Library of the University of Leyden ; from a print dated 1610. by desire of Pope Clement VII. (Giulio dei Medici), to containthe collection of books associated with the name of his ancestorCosmo dei Medici. The bookcases, which are singularly beautifulspecimens of woodwork, were executed, and probably designedwithout reference to Michael Angelo, by Antonio di Marco diGiano, called il Carota, and Gianbattista del Tasso. Thematerial, walnut wood, was prescribe
The architectural history of the University of Cambridge, and of the colleges of Cambridge and Eton . Fig. 10. Bookcases and desks in the Library of the University of Leyden ; from a print dated 1610. by desire of Pope Clement VII. (Giulio dei Medici), to containthe collection of books associated with the name of his ancestorCosmo dei Medici. The bookcases, which are singularly beautifulspecimens of woodwork, were executed, and probably designedwithout reference to Michael Angelo, by Antonio di Marco diGiano, called il Carota, and Gianbattista del Tasso. Thematerial, walnut wood, was prescribed by the pope himself1. 1 [Life and Works of Michelangelo Buonarroti. By C. H. Wilson. , 1881. Chaps, xn. XIII. See also Vasari, ed. Milanesi, 1881, vii. 203.] LAURENTIAN LIBRARY AT FLORENCE. 427 They are placed, as elsewhere, at right angles to the walls, onboth sides of the room. Their general arrangement will be under-. Fig. 11. Bookcase and desk in the Medicean Library at Florence. From a photograph. stood from the illustration (fig. 11). Each consists of a verticalcentral portion, to the end of which the catalogue is affixed. Onone side of this there is a steep desk, on which the books are placedwhile they are being read, and beneath it a shelf, or cupboard,where they lie on their sides, one above the other, when notwanted for use. On the other side of the vertical portion is the 428 THE LIBRARY. readers seat. The chain is attached to each book by a loop ofiron inserted beneath the binding. The links are not of hammerediron as at Hereford (fig. 7), but of twisted wire, more likethe later form in use at Wimborne (fig. 8). The bar ofiron on which the rings at the opposite end of the chain arestrung is placed in the space under the sloping desk. It issecured by a lock attached to the central bracket by which thatspace is divided1. This system of placing the books on a desk or lectern towhich they were
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1800, bookdecade188, booksubjectuniversityofcambridge
