The George Washington and the Revolutionary War Door (1855–1868) is pair of a bronze sculptured doors to the Senate wing of the United States Capitol in

Washington, D.C. ) , image_skyline = , image_caption = Clockwise from top left: the Washington Monument and Lincoln Memorial on the National Mall, United States Capitol, Logan Circle, Jefferson Memorial, White House, Adams Morgan, ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

. American sculptor Thomas Crawford designed and modeled the doors in the mid-1850s, but died prior to their completion. American sculptor

William H. Rinehart William Henry Rinehart (September 13, 1825 – October 28, 1874) was a noted American sculptor. He is considered "the last important American sculptor to work in the classical style." Biography The son of Israel Rinehart (1792–1871) and Mary ...

completed the doors based on Crawford's designs. This sculptured door was surveyed in 1993 as part of the Smithsonian's Save Outdoor Sculpture! program.

Description

These two elaborate doors consist of six panels depicting activities and events associated with George Washington during the

American Revolution The American Revolution was an ideological and political revolution that occurred in British America between 1765 and 1791. The Americans in the Thirteen Colonies formed independent states that defeated the British in the American Revolut ...

. The carved panels on the left, from top to bottom, depict: * the laying of the United States Capitol cornerstone, 1793 *

First inauguration of George Washington The first inauguration of George Washington as the first president of the United States was held on Thursday, April 30, 1789, on the balcony of Federal Hall in New York City, New York. The inauguration was held nearly two months after the begin ...

as President, 1789 * ovation for George Washington at Trenton, New Jersey, 1789 * an allegorical Peace and Agriculture On the right side, from top to bottom, they depict: * the

Battle of Bunker Hill The Battle of Bunker Hill was fought on June 17, 1775, during the Siege of Boston in the first stage of the American Revolutionary War. The battle is named after Bunker Hill in Charlestown, Massachusetts, which was peripherally involved in ...

and death of General Joseph Warren, 1775 *

Battle of Monmouth The Battle of Monmouth, also known as the Battle of Monmouth Court House, was fought near Monmouth Court House in modern-day Freehold Borough, New Jersey on June 28, 1778, during the American Revolutionary War. It pitted the Continental Army, co ...

, 1778 * the

Battle of Yorktown The Siege of Yorktown, also known as the Battle of Yorktown, the surrender at Yorktown, or the German battle (from the presence of Germans in all three armies), beginning on September 28, 1781, and ending on October 19, 1781, at Yorktown, Virgi ...

* and an allegory of a

Hessian soldier Hessians ( or ) were German soldiers who served as auxiliaries to the British Army during the American Revolutionary War. The term is an American synecdoche for all Germans who fought on the British side, since 65% came from the German states ...

and Yankee

History

Crawford designed the doors in

Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...

between 1855 and 1857. Crawford died in 1857 with the modelling substantially complete. Models were created with the assistance of fellow sculptor

for casting at the

Ames Manufacturing Company Ames Manufacturing Company was a manufacturer of swords, tools and cutlery in Chicopee, Massachusetts, as well as an iron and bronze foundry. They were a major provider of side arms, swords, light artillery, and heavy ordnance for the Union in the ...

from 1864 to 1868, when the finished doors were installed. Crawford created a companion set of bronze doors for the House wing of the Capitol, the Revolutionary War Door. In 1993 the door was analyzed by art conservators from the Save Outdoor Sculpture! survey program and was described as well-maintained.

References

1868 establishments in Washington, D.C. 1868 sculptures American Revolutionary War monuments and memorials Bronze sculptures in Washington, D.C. George Washington in art Bronze doors United States Capitol art Sculptures of men in Washington, D.C. {{public-art-stub

Description

History

See also

Further reading

References