Boston Athenæum 🏛️📚

I stumbled upon this place completely by chance while wandering aimlessly through the streets—I had no idea what it was. Now, two years later, I finally understand its significance! 🏙️ “Shaping Boston” Exhibition Drawn in by a poster at the entrance, I discovered a compelling photo exhibition featuring works by documentary photographers Berenice Abbott and her student Irene Shwachman, who captured the essence of Boston through their lenses. 🎨 Art Gallery Highlights Fig. 3: A 19th-century statue of Hermes 🧍♂️🍃—classically styled with strategic leaf coverage (a playful step back in artistic convention!). Fig. 4: Two marble busts—on the left, Washington Allston (1779–1843) 🎨✨, a Harvard graduate and pioneering American Romantic painter, poet, and critic. He was so influential that a neighborhood in Cambridge is named after him: Allston! On the right, James Eliot Cabot (1821–1903) 📖, another Harvard alum from a prominent family, best known as the official biographer and literary executor of philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson. Behind them: A stunning Qing Dynasty Famille Rose vase 🏺🌸 depicting figure scenes (though the exact theme remains a mystery!). 📖 The Library Itself The Boston Athenæum, founded in 1807, is one of the oldest and most prestigious independent libraries in the United States. Its collections include over 700,000 volumes—rare books, manuscripts, maps, art portfolios, and historical documents. Of course, I had no idea when I walked in—I was just there for the vibe! 😄 #BostonAthenaeum #HistoricLibrary #ArtExhibition #BostonHistory #CulturalGem #Wanderlust #BookLovers #Boston 📍❤️