Saint-Gaudens "Lion" and Murals on Staircase

Grand Marble Staircase of Boston Public Library

Edwin Abbey's Paintings in the Card Catalog Room

This Book Was Meant For You The Holy Grail swept me off my feet on my first visit to Boston Public Library (1970)— Ascending the grand staircase, murals of the "Muses" by Chavannes made me linger till Saint-Gaudens "Lion" pushed me onward to the Card Catalogue Room where I was in awe of Edwin Abbey's fifteen panels Quest of the Holy Grail surrounding the room. Studying each painting, eight feet in height totalling 194 feet in length, I was whisked back to the Knights of the Round Table, following Galahad on his adventurous quest. I rushed to the bookshop to buy postcards— the old lady had just the last Panel XV showing "The Golden Tree & Achievement of the Grail" and several of the "Muses" for 5¢ each. Then she showed me the last copy of Abbey's book with fifteen colored plates for $1.00— the original 1936 price. She tells me "No one asked for it. This book was meant for you."           Peter Y. Chou           Mountain View, 2-4-2018 Puvis de Chavannes "Poetry Muses" Mural Holy Grail Postcard: Panel XV "Golden Tree & Achievement of the Grail" Edwin Abbey's book Quest of the Holy Grail Title Page of Abbey's 1936 book Saint-Gauden's "Lion" & Murals Puvis de Chavannes "Enlightenment Inspiring the Muses" Edwin Abbey's Panel II: "Galahad's Oath of Knighthood"