Snapshots of the Past

[West front of the United States Capitol with cows in the foreground] – Antique Wall Art

[West front of the United States Capitol with cows in the foreground], [ca. 1828] — historic drawing
[West front of the United States Capitol with cows in the foreground], [ca. 1828]. Historic drawing from the U.S. Capitol collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

Few images capture their era like this historic drawing of [West front of the United States Capitol with cows in the foreground]. The original is held by the Library of Congress, so what you hang is a true record of its time.

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[West front of the United States Capitol with cows in the foreground]

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Cows graze in the foreground of this watercolor, a detail that sets it apart from more formal views of the Capitol. Around 1828, the building was still a work in progress. The British had burned its interior in 1814, and architect Charles Bulfinch had spent the years since rebuilding it, with the wings and central section nearing completion. The grounds around Capitol Hill were still largely open land, so a pastoral scene like this one reflects the rural character of the young capital. The record does not name the artist, but the unhurried, everyday foreground makes the picture a useful look at how Washington appeared before the city grew up around its government buildings.

Created / published[ca. 1828]
Medium1 drawing : watercolor ; 42 x 60.4 cm.
GenreWatercolors 1820-1830.Drawings Color 1820-1840.
NotesMarian S. Carson Collection (Library of Congress). Exhibit loan 4105-L.
SubjectsUnited States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)--1820-1840. Capitols--Washington (D.C.)--1820-1840.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,430 × 1,134 px · prints to 5 × 4 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-217655

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