Discovery of America (statue)
- Discovery of America (statue)
-
Discovery of America
An illustration of the statue
|
Artist |
Luigi Persico |
Year |
1844 |
Type |
White marble |
Dimensions |
4.8 meters [1] cm (??) |
Location |
Formerly East Facade of the United States Capitol
(In storage), Washington, DC |
Discovery of America (1837–50) is a large marble sculpture group assembled in front of the east façade of the United States Capitol building and exhibited there from 1844 until 1958 when it was removed and never restored.
Description
Both Discovery (
left)
and Rescue (
right)
are visible in this image of Abraham Lincoln'
s 1861 inauguration.
The statue depicts Christopher Columbus holding aloft a globe as an Indian maiden, cowering nearby, looks on. The depiction of Columbus is very different from the traditional portraits, rendering him as a bearded, hawk-faced and stern-eyed figure clad in traditional Conquistador armour. Usually Columbus is shown in flowing Renaissance robes with an astrolabe or a spyglass in hand to represent his title of "Admiral of the Ocean".
History
After years of protest, in 1958, both Discovery and another statue of similar nature, The Rescue by Horatio Greenough, were removed from the east façade in preparation for the building’s extension. They were placed in storage and — without public discussion — never restored.[2]
Fate
The statue is said to be in poor condition[3].
References
- ^ http://www.vanderkrogt.net/statues/object.php?webpage=CO&record=usdc04
- ^ Fryd, Op.cit., pg 93.
- ^ Fryd, Op. cit., pg 96.
Categories: - Outdoor sculptures in Washington, D.C.
- United States Capitol statues
- 1844 works
- Depictions of Christopher Columbus
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