This two-day symposium of leading and emerging scholars from several disciplines will explore the art and architecture of Thomas Jefferson, Andrea Palladio and the development of the University of Virginia including the work of McKim, Mead & White.  The topics to be considered include architecture, decorative arts, landscape, and art. It will take place at the University of Virginia on November 20-21 (Friday and Saturday), 2009.  The symposium will serve as the key program for two major exhibitions: “Thomas Jefferson’s Academical Village: the Creation of an Architectural Masterpiece,” to be held at the University Art Museum, (September 12, 2009-January 4, 2010), and "From Village To Grounds: the University after Jefferson," (September 15, 2009-May 31, 2010) on display in the main gallery of Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, and Mary and David Harrison Institute for American History, Literature, and Culture.

Scholars will explore the impact of Andrea Palladio as part of the 500th anniversary of his birth, Thomas Jefferson’s involvement in architecture and the other arts, and the development of the University of Virginia in its architecture and art from 1825 to 2009. Jefferson owned multiple copies of Palladio’s Four Books of Architecture and as he told a friend: “Palladio was the Bible, stick close to it.” Jefferson’s profound influence on the arts in America extends to architecture, art collecting, furniture, gardens, music, and literature. On the first day of the symposium, scholars will address Palladio and Jefferson and his interest in the fine arts.  This will continue on the second day along with investigations of the development of architecture at the University of Virginia after Jefferson including the designs of McKim, Mead & White, whose Carr’s Hill celebrates its 100th anniversary this year. 

The symposium is sponsored by the University of Virginia’s departments of Architectural History and Art, the University Art Museum, the University Library, the Mary and David Harrison Institute for American History, Literature, and Culture and the Page-Barbour and Richard Lectures Committee Endowment. The symposium intends to showcase current scholarship, while also promoting opportunities for new conversations between scholars, architects, museum curators, librarians, archivists, preservationists, and conservationists, who together will identify new research directions.

Location:

Day 1, November 20 (Friday), will be held in the School of Architecture, Room 153 followed by a reception and a viewing of “Thomas Jefferson’s Academical Village: the Creation of an Architectural Masterpiece,” in the University Art Museum. Also Judith Shatin’s film and composition “Rotunda” will be shown.

Day 2, November 21 (Saturday) will take place in the Auditorium of the Harrison Institute / Small Special Collections Library and will include a viewing of “From Village To Grounds: the University after Jefferson.”

Registration: There is no charge for the symposium, however space is limited and advanced registration is necessary.  Please contact Patty DeCourcy, Administrative Assistant, Department of Architectural History, (email pbm7v@virginia.edu) (Phone 434-9241428) (Fax 434-982-2678)   Information is at http://www.virginia.edu/artmuseum/on_view/exhibitions/AV_symposium/

Accommodations: November 20-21 is not a football weekend and there will be plenty of hotel rooms available.  Attached is a list of hotels adjacent to the University, or check on line.