Louisiana’s capitol building has stood since its construction as a noble monument reflecting the history, culture, and industry of the state. Vincent Kubly, a former art professor, has brought impressive scholarship to the task of describing the design and construction of the capitol. From the time the structure was a dream in the mind of Huey Long to its completion, the book chronicles not only the gigantic effort of creation but further explains the historic and symbolic content of the capitol’s decoration, and clarifies its meaning for modern Louisianans who have inherited the mighty edifice. In its 152 pages, the book contains more than 150 photographs, many of them from the personal files of Solis Seiferth, only surviving member of the architectural firm of Weiss, Dreyfous and Seiferth, which designed, planned, and administered the construction of the capitol from its beginning in 1929 to the formal dedication in 1932. A treasured example of the end of the beaux arts architectural tradition in America, the capitol expressed the ideals and hopes of its time, but it also carries a message for today-symbolizing the state’s progress and aspirations for the future as well as its past.
About the Author
Vincent F. Kubly graduated from Cornell University and the University of Wisconsin, where he earned a doctorate in art history. He taught at Stephen F. Austin State University, Louisiana State University, Sam Houston State University, the University of Texas at El Paso, and Texas A & M.
THE LOUISIANA CAPITOL:
Its Art and Architecture
Vincent F. Kubly
152 pp. 9 x 11 3/4
Color and b/w photos Notes Bibliography Index
2nd ptg.
ISBN: 9780882890821