Capitol of Virginia: A Landmark of American Architecture

The Library of Virginia's 1989 Edition of Fiske Kimball's Capitol of Virginia reaffirmed the reputation of this remarkable work as a "landmark in the developing field of architectural history." The 2002 edition demonstrates how Kimball's groundbreaking scholarship on Thomas Jefferson the architect inspired the next generation of architectural historians to reexamine this seminal building, its conception, and its influence on American architecture. Charles Brownell's new introduction recognizes Kimball's important contribution while also showing how recent research about the Virginia State Capitol has fundamentally changed our understanding of the building's sources and Jefferson's vision. Likewise, and eight-year project to conserve and research the architectural model of Virginia's Capitol that Jefferson commissioned while in France offers fresh insights into the building's origins and evolution, as summarized in F. Carey Howlett's essay. These new insights are supported by sixty-nine illustrations, many in full color, visually documenting one of America's most important architectural achievements.