Cleveland Metroparks Volunteer Photographers
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The Philosophical Hall at the Strahov Monastery, Prague, Czechia (the Czech Republic's official short name as of 2016)
(unless you made and paid for a reservation months beforehand, you are not allowed inside and can only admire the room from the doorway; photos can be taken only if you pay extra for a photo permit; best viewed enlarged for details)
Abbot Vaclav Mayer, during the last quarter of the 18th century, decided to build new library premises for the numerous acquisitions so he ordered the Philosophical Hall to be built by the naturalized Italian architect Johann Ignaz Palliardi. The hall is 32 meters long, 10 meters wide and 14 meters high, flanked on all sides by rich walnut wood bookcases. The highest shelves are only accessible from the gallery which is accessed by secret spiral staircases in both corners, masked by false book covers.
The ceiling was painted by Viennese artist Anton Maulbertsch over a period of 6 months, aided by only one assistant. The painting called The Spiritual Development of Mankind depicts the development of religion and science, guided by Divine Providence in the center of the painting, surrounded by virtues.
In the 19th century, Napoleon Bonaparte's wife Marie Louise visited the library and donated a four-volume work on Louvre museum paintings and Versailles gardens. The gift was stored in the tall bookcase that dominates the left side of the hall. On the top of the bookcase, there is a marble bust of Francis I, Emperor of Austria and Marie Louise's father.
The total number of volumes in the hall exceeds 50,000 works. In 2010, the Philosophical Hall was completely restored.
Probably my favorite waterfall I've taken pictures of so far but there are so many more to see in both the metro parks and CVNP as well as Hocking Hills down near Columbus.
I live in the high desert of Northern Arizona. Here it is mesas and well desert. South of us you have Flagstaff Arizona, at the base of the San Fransisco Peaks, Mountains. Here is Native American villages, while there is an American city. Sometimes they seem as different as night and day. The people of the Mesas, and the people by the mountain, but they are both connected by the same plains.
God loves you
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