To help lessen the eyesore of ongoing Rotunda construction, Art History Prof. William Wylie added pictures to the wall facing the Lawn. The pictures document the remaking of the Rotunda’s Corinthian capitals which are being crafted in Carrara, Italy.
“It was a part of Jefferson’s original idea for the Rotunda that the capitals would be made [of marble from] Carrara,” Wylie said. “I think the reconstruction is important for the continued perception of the Rotunda as an important architectural treasure. Remaking the capitals as Jefferson had envisioned, as well as other refinements underway, will renew the luster of the site.”
Wylie has traveled to Italy twice to document the making of the 16 new capitals at the Pedrini Studios. He spent seven years photographing the city, working there on and off since 2000.
“I am making photographs as they are making the new capitals,” Wylie said. “In a few months, they will ship them over [from Italy] and I will document that, as well as the replacement of the capitals on the Rotunda.”
Wylie was asked to install his photographs on the wall around the Rotunda to add an artistic dimension to the reconstruction. The first pictures were added in time for fall convocation.
“All of the pictures [on the wall] are from the photographs that I have made as I’ve been going [to Italy],” Wylie said. “They are from inside the sculpture studio where the capitals are being made, or of the quarries themselves where the marble was extracted.”
About 30 pictures have been installed on the wall to date.
“I tried to make it a more interesting inspiration by mixing the pictures up so that it wasn’t just pictures of workers carving on capitals," Wylie said. "Sometimes [the pictures] are of the details, some are large sweeping landscapes and some are workers carving.”
Julia Loman and Elise Sokolowski, fifth year fellows in the art department, were among the students who assisted Wylie in the installment of the pictures.
“[Wylie] asked if we could help, and it was actually really fun,” Sokolowski said. “He had already installed a couple, and then with the rest we let him direct where we wanted things to go. We tried to find pictures that worked well together graphically and spatially."
Sokolowski said the project aims to benefit the community as a whole.
“All of my memories are of the Rotunda being redone or under reconstruction, and it’s nice that [with this project] it’s a space to show art,” Sokolowski said. “I think there’s been more of an effort to connect the arts at U.Va. to the school and to the greater community, and this has done a great job of bringing attention to [Wylie’s] work and art at U.Va. in general.”
The Rotunda reconstruction is a long process, but Loman said the photos provide evidence the final product will offer students and the community a renewed appreciation for this iconic center of Grounds.
“I think it’s really important that they get the capitals up there," Loman said. "I can tell by the photos that they are going to be beautiful — the Carrara stone is amazing. It might not be so nice right now, and we can’t enjoy the Lawn like we usually do, but it will be worth it in the end.”
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