The Library Inscriptions – Come and…

A painted wooden panel mounted on the lobby wall is carved with the words

Come, and take choice of all my library
And so beguile thy sorrow…

Picture of inscription “Come, and take choice…”

These lines are from William Shakespeare’s Titus Andronicus, Act 4, scene 1, lines 34 and 35, a speech of Titus’ to Lavinia after her mutilation.

The italic copperplate style calligraphy of Raphael Boguslav (a Newport, R.I. resident) was enlarged and carved by John Benson. The panel of medium density fiberboard, with a birch veneer, measures 10 feet by 2 1/4 feet. The letters were carved to a 90º V-section and painted a darker tint than that of the panel surface, which matches the wall color. The piece was installed on August 28, 1995.

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