The Art Institute of Chicago

Among the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries’ holdings is a group of 19th- and early 20th-century folio volumes on the decorative arts. These exquisite, large-format books comprise a range of cultural and historical styles of ornamentation and design, lavishly illustrated through both the written word and vividly rendered images. Various forms of decorative art are depicted in these volumes—the illustrations employ printing techniques such as chromolithography, wood engraving, photogravure, and pochoir. The bindings themselves are an additional vehicle for the depiction of ornamentation, resulting in splendidly decorated books. In 2009, with the support of the Art Institute of Chicago’s Auxiliary Board, the Ryerson and Burnham Libraries’ conservation department embarked on a project to preserve and stabilize this group of approximately 600 folios on the decorative arts. This exhibition showcases a selection of the treasures uncovered during the project.