Best Nod To Italian Architecture
Redwood Library & Athenaeum
The largest celebration of architect Andrea Palladio's 500th birthday last fall took place in his birthplace of Vicenza, Italy. More than 3000 miles to the west, the REDWOOD LIBRARY & ATHENAEUM also threw Palladio a bash. The Redwood owns a 1737 translated copy of Palladio's seminal four books, and the library, the oldest in the country, was the first public building in the US to be built on Palladian principles, in 1748. In fact, its structure is said to be based on a painting of a Roman Doric temple in Palladio's series. But the significance of the Redwood's architecture is certainly matched by its collections: rare books from the 17th and 18th centuries; two dozen paintings from that era, including several by Gilbert Stuart; sculpture and furniture from the 18th and 19th centuries; and gardens first laid out in the early 19th century. Learn about all of the collections on a guided tour. | 50 Bellevue Avenue, Newport | 401.847.0292 | redwoodlibrary.org
