University of Pittsburgh - Owl Yearbook (Pittsburgh, PA)

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THE RENCH ROOM 6

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Our American heritage is closely allied with England. The spirit of this land is found in the large English Room. It recreates the Shakespearian Age with an atmosphere of poetic and parliamentary distinction. The room is designed to be harmonious with the House of Commons. Gifts from Commons to Pitt of original materials from the old House form the heart of the room. Their craftsmanship and obvious historical value make this room one of the most authentic of English culture on any campus in America. Two portraits are pictured. One is of William Pitt, “the Great Commoner” and First Earl of Chatham. “Friend of the colonists. His name the City and the University share.” The other portrait is of Andrew W. Mellon, Class of 1873; Secretary of the Treasury, 1921-1932; U. S. Ambassador to the Court of St. James, 1932-1933; and benefactor of the University. One outstanding feature is the window bay. Set in moulded limestone, ancient tinted window-glass encased in lead is emblazoned with six crests of Oxford, Cambridge, and the Houses of Lords and Commons, adding a dignified richness to the honey-colored woodwork. These stained-glass medallions and the old brick from No. 10 Downing Street placed by the English-speaking Union are symbols that demonstrate our unity with England and her precepts from which we have received so very much. 5

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With a keen awareness of the classical past, the French Room portrays the Empire Period of the early nineteenth century. As enthusiasm grew from the prizes that Napoleon brought home from his campaigns in Italy, Greece and Egypt, the newly found classic designs began to appear in French furniture and architecture. In perfect French taste these ancient motifs embellish the painted walls and the rich mahogany furniture of the French Room with a gilded opulence. Slender wall pilasters are crowned with ornate carvings rubbed with gold leaf. Griffins, small rosettes and acanthus leaves accentuate the translucent grey monotone with a golden brilliance. Specially designed as a French interior of the period, the paneling exactly frames the blackboards of satiny black glass. A wall cabinet in the room, containing medallions, statuettes and other objets d’art, matches the entrance in size and shape. Student armchairs with gracefully curving backs and upholstered blue leather are each a work of inspired art. fhe focal interest is the Gobelin tapestry, its style originating in the fifteenth century. Its golden beauty characterizes an art form recognized throughout the world as unparalleled. A parquet floor of highly polished oak is patterned after doors at Versailles. The crystal chandeliers and damask draperies hint of the France of Louis XIV, but the room as a , whole stands for three principles of the French— Libertey Egalite, Fraternite. 7