I took this standing beneath the dome, wishing I had my wide angle and knowing I'll go back with it sometime this spring. It is the world's largest such dome in what used to be the main circulation library. This image is above the shot in my extras album: http://365project.org/taffy/the-also-ran-ph/2014-04-04
Stunning ceiling and wonderful capture! You are so lucky to be able to take photos of these fantastic buildings! We seem to be banned from taking cameras inside many buildings!
I was curious about your "largest" statement, so I looked it up and found out it is the largest "Tiffany glass dome" in the world. It is amazing to me that a glass structure 38 feet across can be strong enough to be constructed as a dome. Beautiful.
I thought those might me the signs of the Zodiac around the center, but there are too many. The lines kind of play with your mind. You look at it for awhile and they look like they curve one way, but then they seem to change and curve another.
@kathiecb@skipt07 I decided I need to take a tour of the building because I couldn't tell what they were. I know that there are symbols that relate to the city in other parts of the dome -- like a Y with a superimposed CPL (Y for the Chicago River's north and south fork; CPL For Chicago Public Library).
@kathiecb@skipt07 Aha -- the internet is wonderful. Here's what I just found: The magnificent translucent dome, 38 feet in diameter and made of Tiffany Favrile glass, is cut in the shape of fish scales. At the top of the dome are the signs of the zodiac. Now lighted electrically, it was originally illuminated by sunlight. At the base of the dome is a quotation from the British author Joseph Addison. The dome glass, lighting fixtures, wall sconces and chandeliers were made by the Tiffany Glass and Decorating Company of New York. The supporting frame was constructed by the Chicago Ornamental Iron Company. And you can read about the whole restoration here: http://www.cityofchicago.org/city/en/depts/dca/supp_info/chicago_culturalcenter-tiffanydome.html
Fav