Snapshots of the Past

[U.S. Capitol after burning by the British] – Historic Print

[U.S. Capitol after burning by the British], [ca. 1814] — historic drawing
[U.S. Capitol after burning by the British], [ca. 1814]. 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

This historic drawing of [U.S. Capitol after burning by the British] brings a moment of history to your wall. An authentic image from the Library of Congress, it carries the weight of the real historical record.

Framed, it is ready for the wall; unframed, it is ready for the frame you choose. It brings character to any room and makes a memorable gift. Free shipping in the lower 48 states. Snapshots of the Past has been bringing history to the wall since 2001, for tens of thousands of customers worldwide.

[U.S. Capitol after burning by the British]

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The Capitol shown here is not the finished building that visitors know today but the unfinished structure as it stood after British troops set it alight in August 1814, during the War of 1812. The drawing is a rare contemporary record of that damage, rendered in ink and watercolor on a large sheet. British forces had entered Washington that August and burned the Capitol along with the President's House, a raid that shocked Americans and shaped how the young nation thought about its capital. Watching the ruined walls, a viewer can see why rebuilding the Capitol became a matter of national pride.

Created / published[ca. 1814]
Medium1 drawing on paper : ink and watercolor ; 59 x 50 cm.
GenreWatercolors American 1810-1820.Drawings American Color 1810-1820.
SubjectsUnited States Capitol (Washington, D.C.)--1810-1820. War damage--Washington (D.C.)--1810-1820. United States--History--War of 1812--Destruction & pillage--British.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan5,000 × 4,031 px · prints to 17 × 13 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-224688

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