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Thomas Jefferson's Monticello

The Chrysler Museum of Art on the University of Virginia campus will put on an exhibit entitled "Thomas Jefferson, Architect: Palladian Models, Democratic Principles, and the Conflict of Ideals."

It looks at the Jefferson's influences and ideas around architecture, including displays of models based on his designs, reports Associated Press (AP). On the one hand, Jefferson was a man who sought to create architecture that symbolized "liberty and democracy," but on the other, he used enslaved Americans to construct the very same structures designed to embody these ideals.

"They helped build everything from Virginia's Statehousea precursor to the Capital Building in Washingtonto the University of Virginia and Jefferson's home of Monticello," writes AP, speaking of Jefferson's use of slave labor.

The exhibit opens this Saturday. It "juxtaposes Jefferson's visions with the realities of slavery." The exhibition catalogue,Thomas Jefferson, Architect, includes contributions fromGuido Beltramini,director of the Centro Internazionale di Studi Architettura Andrea Palladio and the Palladio Museum; critic and scholar Barry Bergdoll, and GSAPP professor Mabel O. Wilson.

Read more here:

Slavery and liberty: A new exhibit explores the Thomas Jefferson paradox - Archinect