The fateful deal between Hamilton and Jefferson to made make what is now know as Washington D.C. the Federal City set the wheels in motion to create a Congressional building that would serve a symbol of the new Republic. The architectural history of the building, as spelled out above, is a multi layered and as complicated at the city itself. About 6 designers and 6 presidents oversaw the construction of this building, designed to express the new political and social order of the day.
The outside of the Capitol is not the only feature that symbolizes the countries national identity. Inside, visitors and congressmen alike can witness the interpretations of American history through art. Most notable, the Apotheosis of Washington, atop the inside of the rotunda by Constantino Brumidi in the 1850's, deifies Washington as the nations first president. Brumidi also began the frieze of U.S. History that lies just below the rotunda that highlights historical events in U.S. history chronologically. This frieze was originally intended to be carved stonework. However, Brumidi convinced Congress he could complete it faster and cheaper if he painted it to look like stone. Look closely. Does is look like stone to you? Two other artists went on to finish where the other artists left off to complete this frieze. These works as well as others include American flora and fauna to immortalize the people, events and landscape of America.
Both inside and Out, the Capitol Building expresses the new Republic as defined by our founding fathers and offers itself a visual manifestation of the political history and challenges since the beginning of our Nations Capitol.
The Capitol and especially the Capitol rotunda have very interesting meaning to me, specifically the Frieze. The rotunda is like the Roman symbol of our political past. Here, all people's, the public, Senators, and Congressmen, can converge on the seat of American government. However, the Frieze itself makes this rotunda less European and decidedly more American. To distinguish ourselves from Europeans, we used innovation and painted our frieze rather than carved it. Sure we saved a buck or two, but we also demonstrated our ability to mimic the Old World faster in the New World.
ReplyDeleteAlso, I feel the addition of the Visitor's Center really changes the Capitol. It used to feel very lofty in an imposing, secretive way. There was no specific entrance for visitors; you felt as if you were being let in on the secret of Government. Now, the Visitor's Center makes me feel as if this is MY Capitol, one in which I can be a part of whenever I so choose to be. It feels almost egalitarian now.
While I had never visited the Capital building before the addition of the visitors'center, I agree with Michael that the visitors' center does make the building feel welcoming. I took a quick walk around in the museum on the lower level while we were waiting for the tour, and was impressed with the displays: a good basic history of the building and branches of government, and some interesting artifacts and documents (such as a draft of Lincoln's DC emancipation bill).
ReplyDeleteThe architecture of and artwork within the Capital building sends a clear message about the importance of the Legislative branch and the stories of progress shown in the artwork. However, the visitors' center offered another opportunity to present the Capital to the public, in a way that was likely not anticipated when the building was originally constructed.