National Statuary Hall

The National Statuary Hall is an area in the United States Capitol devoted to statues of people and symbols important in American history. The hall, also known as the Old Hall of the House, is the large, two-story, semicircular room south of the Rotunda. The meeting place of the U.S. House of Representatives for nearly 50 years, and now the main exhibition space for the National Statuary Hall Collection, this room is one of the most historic chambers in the Capitol.

Description of the Hall

The Hall is built in the shape of an ancient amphitheater and is one of the earliest examples of Greek revival architecture in America. While most wall surfaces are painted plaster, the low gallery walls and pilasters are of sandstone. Around the room's perimeter stand colossal columns of variegated breccia marble quarried along the Potomac River. The Corinthian capitals of white marble were carved in Carrara, Italy. A lantern in the fireproof cast-steel ceiling admits natural light into the Hall. The chamber floor is laid with black and white marble tiles; the black marble was purchased specifically for the chamber, while the white marble was scrap material from the Capitol extension project. The four fireplaces on the south side of the room, in conjunction with an ingenious central heating system, warmed the room during cold months.

Related Topics:
Amphitheater - Greek revival architecture - Breccia - Potomac River - Corinthian capital - Carrara - Italy

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Only two of the many statues presently in the room were commissioned for display in the original Hall of the House. Enrico Causici's neoclassical plaster Liberty and the Eagle looks out over the Hall from a niche above the colonnade behind what was once the Speaker's rostrum. The sandstone relief eagle in the frieze of the entablature below was carved by Giuseppe Valaperta. Above the door leading into the Rotunda is the Car of History by Carlo Franzoni. This neoclassical marble sculpture depicts Clio, the Muse of History, riding in the chariot of Time and recording events in the chamber below. The wheel of the chariot contains the chamber clock; the works are by Simon Willard.

Related Topics:
Enrico Causici - Neoclassical - Liberty and the Eagle - Speaker - Frieze - Entablature - Giuseppe Valaperta - Car of History - Carlo Franzoni - Marble sculpture - Clio - Simon Willard

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~