Isabella Flores
The Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C., is a significant architectural feature of the Capitol Building, completed in 1824 and designed by Charles Bulfinch in the neoclassical style. The Rotunda is adorned with various artworks, including historical paintings and sculptures, making it a national showcase of art. One of the most notable paintings in the Rotunda is The Apotheosis of Washington, a large fresco by Greek-Italian artist Constantino Brumidi, completed in 1865. The fresco is suspended 180 feet above the floor and features figures up to 15 feet tall, visible from the floor below. Brumidi's masterpiece depicts George Washington surrounded by allegorical scenes representing national concepts such as War, Science, Commerce, and Agriculture. The Rotunda also features paintings by other artists, including John Trumbull, John Vanderlyn, and William Henry Powell, showcasing important moments in American history, such as the American Revolution and the exploration and colonisation of America.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the painting | The Apotheosis of Washington |
| Artist | Constantino Brumidi |
| Year | 1865 |
| Medium | Fresco |
| Height | 180 feet above the Rotunda floor |
| Area covered | 4,664 square feet |
| Size of figures | Up to 15 feet tall |
| Location | U.S. Capitol Rotunda |
| Building completed | Between 1818 and 1824 |
| Building height | 48 feet to the top of the original walls |
| Diameter | 96 feet |
| Dome height | 180 feet 3 inches to the canopy |
| Number of scenes | 19 |
| Number of niches | 8 |
| Number of paintings in niches | 8 |
| Themes of paintings | American Revolution, exploration and colonization of America |
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What You'll Learn
The Apotheosis of Washington, a fresco by Constantino Brumidi
The United States Capitol building features a central rotunda below the Capitol dome. Built between 1818 and 1824, the rotunda has been described as the "symbolic and physical heart" of the Capitol. The space is a national showcase of art and includes numerous historical paintings and sculptures. One of the most prominent artworks in the rotunda is "The Apotheosis of Washington," a fresco by Constantino Brumidi.
Brumidi was a Greek-Italian artist who was born and trained in Rome. He worked in the Vatican and several Roman palaces before emigrating to the United States in 1852. He was a master of creating the illusion of three-dimensional forms and figures on flat walls and painted frescoes and murals throughout the Capitol from 1855 until his death in 1880. "The Apotheosis of Washington" is considered his most ambitious work at the Capitol Building.
The fresco is suspended 180 feet (55 meters) above the rotunda floor and covers an area of 4,664 square feet (433.3 square meters). Brumidi painted it in 1865, at the end of the American Civil War, in just eleven months. He was paid $40,000, which would be worth around $821,652 today. The figures in the fresco are up to 15 feet (4.6 meters) tall and can be seen from the floor below.
"The Apotheosis of Washington" depicts George Washington surrounded by two goddesses and thirteen maidens, each with a star above her head, representing the original Thirteen Colonies. Several of the maidens have their backs turned to Washington, representing the colonies that had seceded from the Union at the time of painting. Across from Washington is the banner "E Pluribus Unum," which is Latin for "out of many, one." Surrounding this central scene are six allegorical representations of national concepts: "War," "Science," "Marine," "Commerce," "Mechanics," and "Agriculture." These perimeter scenes are not fully visible from the floor of the Capitol.
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![Historic Framed Print, Baptism of Pocahontas" painting in Capitol Rotunda, [Washington, D.C.]", 17-7/8" x 21-7/8"](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/41gW-LQfbjL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Four scenes from the American Revolution, painted by John Trumbull
The United States Capitol building features a central rotunda below the Capitol dome. Built between 1818 and 1824, the rotunda has been described as the "symbolic and physical heart" of the Capitol. The space is a national showcase of art and includes numerous historical paintings and sculptures. One of the paintings in the rotunda is John Trumbull's "Declaration of Independence", which was commissioned by Congress in 1817 and placed in the rotunda in 1824. The painting depicts the moment on June 28, 1776, when the first draft of the Declaration of Independence was presented to the Second Continental Congress. Trumbull, an American painter and military officer, is best known for his historical paintings of the American Revolutionary War, of which he was a veteran. He has been called the "Painter of the Revolution".
Trumbull's "Declaration of Independence" is one of four scenes from the American Revolution that he painted for the rotunda. The other three paintings are "Surrender of General Burgoyne", "Surrender of Lord Cornwallis", and "General George Washington Resigning His Commission". These paintings were placed in the rotunda between 1819 and 1824. Trumbull's paintings depict important moments in American history and have become iconic representations of the nation's founding.
"Surrender of General Burgoyne" depicts the surrender of British General John Burgoyne during the Saratoga campaign of the American Revolutionary War. The battle was a significant victory for the American forces and a turning point in the war. Trumbull's painting captures the moment of General Burgoyne's surrender, with the American and British soldiers facing each other across a field. The painting is known for its dramatic use of light and shadow, as well as its accurate portrayal of the uniforms and weapons of the time.
"Surrender of Lord Cornwallis" depicts another important surrender during the American Revolutionary War. Lord Cornwallis was a British Army general who commanded forces in the Southern theater of the war. On October 19, 1781, Cornwallis surrendered to American and French forces at Yorktown, Virginia, effectively ending the war in the colonies. Trumbull's painting captures the moment of surrender, with Lord Cornwallis in the center, surrounded by American and French soldiers. The painting is known for its attention to detail, including the accurate portrayal of the uniforms and weapons of both the American and French forces.
"General George Washington Resigning His Commission" depicts a significant moment in the early history of the United States. On December 23, 1783, General George Washington, the commander-in-chief of the Continental Army, resigned his commission and retired from military service. The event took place in the Senate chamber of the Maryland State House in Annapolis, Maryland. Trumbull's painting shows General Washington standing at a table, delivering his farewell address to the officers of the Continental Army. The painting captures the solemnity and significance of the moment, with the officers gathered around Washington, listening to his words.
These four paintings by John Trumbull are important examples of historical art that capture significant moments in the American Revolution and the early history of the United States. By commemorating these events, Trumbull's paintings have helped to shape the nation's collective memory and understanding of its founding.
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Scenes depicting the exploration and colonisation of America
The United States Capitol Rotunda features a central rotunda below the Capitol dome. Built between 1818 and 1824, the rotunda has been described as the "symbolic and physical heart" of the Capitol. The space is a national showcase of art, including numerous historical paintings and sculptures.
Between 1840 and 1855, four paintings were added to the Rotunda, depicting the exploration and colonisation of America. These paintings are:
- Landing of Columbus by John Vanderlyn: This painting depicts the arrival of Christopher Columbus in the Americas, marking the beginning of European exploration and colonisation of the continent.
- Discovery of the Mississippi by William Henry Powell: The painting captures the moment when European explorers first discovered the Mississippi River, one of the major waterways in North America.
- Baptism of Pocahontas by John Gadsby Chapman: Pocahontas was a Native American woman who played a significant role in the early years of the Jamestown colony. Her baptism marked a symbolic moment in the colonisation process, as it represented the cultural and religious conversion of the indigenous population.
- Embarkation of the Pilgrims by Robert Walter Weir: The painting depicts the departure of the Pilgrims from England aboard the Mayflower in 1620, leading to the establishment of one of the earliest European settlements in North America.
These paintings, created by different artists, collectively tell the story of the exploration and colonisation of America, reflecting significant moments in the country's history. They are surrounded by other artistic masterpieces, including sculptures and busts of important figures, all contributing to the rich narrative of the United States Capitol Rotunda.
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The dome and rotunda restoration project
The United States Capitol building features a central rotunda below the Capitol dome. The rotunda, which was completed between 1818 and 1824, has been described as the "symbolic and physical heart" of the Capitol. The dome, on the other hand, was constructed between 1855 and 1866. The dome is not made of stone, but rather of cast iron carefully painted to appear to be made of the same stone as the Capitol building.
In 2013, the Architect of the Capitol announced a four-year, $10 million project to repair and conserve the Capitol Dome's exterior and the Capitol rotunda. The dome and rotunda, which were last conserved in 1960, were showing significant signs of rust and disrepair. There was a danger that decorative ironwork could fall from the rotunda to the space below, and that weather-related problems could damage the artwork in the rotunda. The restoration project consisted of repairing more than 1,000 cracks to make the Dome watertight and included the restoration and replacement of cast iron and ornamentation. The exterior paint was removed, and new layers were applied to protect the dome from corrosion and the effects of the elements. The project required scaffolding around the exterior of the Dome, as well as in the Rotunda. The restoration of the Rotunda included removing hazardous materials, restoring ironwork, upgrading electrical and mechanical systems, installing new lighting, and repainting to historically appropriate colours.
The restoration project was completed in 2016, ensuring that this hallowed space will be enjoyed by generations of visitors, staff, and members of Congress for years to come.
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The architecture of the rotunda
The United States Capitol building features a central rotunda below the Capitol dome. Built between 1818 and 1824, the rotunda has been described as the "symbolic and physical heart" of the Capitol. The rotunda is connected by corridors leading south to the House of Representatives and north to the Senate chambers. The semi-circular National Statuary Hall lies to the immediate south, and the Old Senate Chamber, used by the Senate until 1859 and by the Supreme Court until 1935, is to the northeast. The rotunda is 96 feet (29 m) in diameter and rises 48 feet (15 m) to the top of its original walls. Everything above this line was added between 1855 and 1866 by Thomas U. Walter, the fourth Architect of the Capitol. Walter designed the north and south extensions of the Capitol Building and was responsible for the new high dome of fireproof cast iron, bringing the centre portion into harmony with the large new wings.
The rotunda's sandstone walls are curved and divided by fluted Doric pilasters, with wreaths of olive branches carved in the frieze above. The floor is made of concentric rings of waxed Seneca Sandstone arranged around a central circular white marble slab. The dome features an inner and outer design, with a canopy suspended between them that is visible through an oculus at the top of the inner dome. In 1862, Walter asked painter Constantino Brumidi to design a fresco on the canopy, and in 1865, Brumidi painted The Apotheosis of Washington, a large fresco visible through the oculus of the dome. The figures, up to 15 feet tall, can be seen from the floor below.
The rotunda is adorned with numerous historical paintings and sculptures. Eight niches in the rotunda hold large, framed historical paintings, including four scenes from the American Revolution by John Trumbull: Declaration of Independence, Surrender of General Burgoyne, Surrender of Lord Cornwallis, and General George Washington Resigning His Commission. The rotunda also features statues and busts, primarily of presidents, including a copy of a statue of George Washington by Antoine Houdon. The sculpture also includes a bust of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and the Portrait Monument to Lucretia Mott, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, and Susan B. Anthony.
The rotunda has undergone several restoration projects over the years to repair damage caused by water leaks and general deterioration. In 2013, a four-year, $10 million project was announced to conserve the Capitol Dome's exterior and the rotunda, including repairing ironwork, repainting the interior, and installing new lighting. The restoration ensures that the rotunda will be preserved for future generations to enjoy.
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Frequently asked questions
The painting in the eye of the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol is "The Apotheosis of Washington", a fresco by Greek-Italian artist Constantino Brumidi.
Constantino Brumidi painted "The Apotheosis of Washington" in 1865, towards the end of the American Civil War.
"The Apotheosis of Washington" depicts George Washington surrounded by goddesses, 13 maidens, and six scenes representing "War", "Science", "Marine", "Commerce", "Mechanics", and "Agriculture".
"The Apotheosis of Washington" covers an area of 4,664 square feet and is suspended 180 feet above the Rotunda floor. The figures depicted are up to 15 feet tall.
The Rotunda of the U.S. Capitol features several historical paintings, including works by John Trumbull, John Vanderlyn, William Henry Powell, John Gadsby Chapman, and Robert Walter Weir.
