Worlds of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello

The neoclassical facade of Monticello, Thomas Jefferson's Virginia mansion, concealed busy interiors crammed with his eclectic collection of paintings, engravings, sculpture, scientific instruments, clocks, maps, Native American artifacts, specimens of natural history, musical instruments, silver, furniture, ceramics and personal objects. This sumptuous catalog with 327 illustrations (107 in color) of an exhibit at Monticello commemorating the 250th anniversary of Jefferson's birth provides a window on his polymathic activities as architect, naturalist, amateur scientist, gardener, historian and connoisseur. Objects shown here range from the desk on which the Declaration of Independence was written to moose antlers and Jefferson's walking stick. In her engaging essay, Stein, curator of Monticello, portrays a passionate collector who displayed both untutored taste and worldly sophistication. (May)