So much is viewable while standing inside Washington’s Capitol rotunda. Many consider the visual experience of the domed circular room overwhelming. Yet, it’s easy to overlook important historical significance unless visitors spend time studying the art, architecture, and sculptures in this vast space. Such is the case with the rotunda’s frieze.
Layers of art, architectural elements, molding treatments, and carvings vie for viewers’ attention. First, a frieze is a specific type of art; it is a horizontal band of painted or sculpted decoration located near a ceiling. The Capitol rotunda’s painted frieze, aptly titled “The Frieze of American History,” was the work of three successive artists: Constantino Brumidi (1878–1880), Filippo Costaggini (1881–1889), and Allyn Cox (1951–1953). All three were trained in Rome, but what they presented for American posterity inside one of the world’s most important structures is imagery and symbolism connoting important aspects of American history, from the landing of Columbus to the birth of aviation.
The visual interpretation begins allegorically, with America, represented by a woman, holding a spear and shield. A woman to America’s right is a Native American, who holds a bow and arrow. A female figure touted as History holds a stone tablet to record historical events. Of course, an American eagle is prominent and clasps in its talons an olive branch, symbolizing peace.
After this emblematic arrangement, the remaining 18 scenes clearly depict pivotal moments in American history. Each section conveys drama. For example, Hernando DeSoto’s funeral scene along the Mississippi River in 1542 shows the Spanish explorer’s body shrouded, surrounded by 14 men, one with his hand resting upon a Bible. The 1775 battle of Lexington segment portrays a British officer atop a muscular rearing horse. Behind him are redcoats in formation and before him, an American militia gathered, injured yet defiant, beside a leafy tree.
The frieze moves on to include the Declaration of Independence, with people in an outdoor assemblage hurrahing the likes of Benjamin Franklin and other Founders; the respectful surrender of Cornwallis’s troops at Yorktown; a Confederate soldier and a Union soldier shaking hands after the end of the Civil War—each accompanied by a soldier and all carrying weapons; and a gun crew preparing to fire a cannon-like gun in a naval battle during the Spanish-American War.
Among these panels are many other significant American historical events, such as Pocahontas saving John Smith, the landing of the Pilgrims, the colonization of New England, and more.
While the frieze may appear small because it starts 58 feet above the rotunda floor, it actually measures 8 feet, 4 inches, and is about 300 feet in circumference. It’s painted in a treatment called grisaille, which involves a monochrome of whites and browns so that it resembles a sculpture, not a painting.
To fully absorb the frieze’s intricacies, booking a comprehensive tour—through the Capitol or a state political representative’s office—is necessary. Bring a telephoto lens, a pair of binoculars, or both to look closely and fully appreciate each historical depiction’s minutiae. Plus, books such as “The United States Capitol: Its Architecture and Decoration” provide further reference.
