Grand Gothic Library Hall

Ribbed stone vaults arch high overhead in a cathedral-like library, lit by stained-glass windows glowing red, blue and gold at the far end beneath a candle chandelier. Wooden shelving climbs two stories on every side, packed with leather-bound books, and rolling ladders lean against the balconies that ring the upper level. A writing desk in the foreground holds a world map, books, a quill, inkwell and lit candelabra, while a second desk behind holds an open book and pen beside a globe. Smaller globes and glass jars of colored liquid sit on cabinet tops, and scrolls lean in a cup near the front desk. Iron railings trace the edge of the mezzanine, and stone columns with carved capitals rise between the bookcases toward the vaulted ceiling. Each bay of shelving holds its own subject and its own ladder, breaking the vast room into a line of separate reading alcoves.