Architectural Drawing attributed to Thomas Jefferson, dated 1826. Framed ink drawing of the front elevation and floor plan details of the Rotunda from the University of Virginia, Charlottesville; set on grid matrix ground on off-white paper; inscribed in ink: "Done by Jefferson" top center; and "Mr. Jefferson draught the ground work of the college at 84 years" on the lower right side.

This drawing shows the future position of the custom-made tower clock, ordered at Simon Willard’s workshop and delivered to Charlottesville later on. The dial of the clock was made at the University in situ to be precise with the proportions.

Jefferson used a Pantheon, a famous second-century Roman temple, as inspiration for his Rotunda. Construction began in 1822 and was completed two years after Jefferson’s death in 1828. Unfortunately the Rotunda with the clock was destroyed in a fire on October 27, 1895. Today the Academical Village is designated as a UNESCO World Heritage site as well as Monticello.

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Ht. 21” 96.34