Subjects – Art and Artifacts
Artist Gilbert Stuart’s portraits of George Washington
April 12, 1796
On this date, President George Washington posed for artist Gilbert Stuart for the famous Lansdowne portrait, the basis for two of the first chief executive’s portraits in the U.S. Capitol.
Congressman and poet John Quincy Adams of Massachusetts
April 16, 1831
On this day, while serving in the 22nd Congress (1831–1833), John Quincy Adams penned the epic poem, “Dermot MacMorrough, or The Conquest of Ireland.”
The first meeting of architect Montgomery Meigs and artist Constantino Brumidi
December 28, 1854
On this date, artist Constantino Brumidi met Captain Montgomery C. Meigs, engineer in charge of the construction and decoration of the Capitol extension.
The Statue of Freedom
July 12, 1855
On this date, Architect of the Capitol Montgomery C. Meigs received the conceptual drawings from Thomas Crawford, an American neoclassical artist, for the Statue of Freedom.
The Apotheosis of George Washington
January 17, 1866
On this date, Constantino Brumidi’s fresco, The Apotheosis of George Washington, was first reviewed in the National Intelligencer.
The creation of the Committee on Military Affairs portraits of forts
June 16, 1870
Architect of the Capitol Edward Clark formally asked artist Seth Eastman to decorate the House Committee on Military Affairs hearing room.
Albert Bierstadt’s paintings The Discovery of the Hudson and A Scene in the Rocky Mountains
December 06, 1874
On this date, Albert Bierstadt made a bold move, mounting an unauthorized exhibition of his paintings, The Discovery of the Hudson and A Scene in the Rocky Mountains, in the House Chamber.
Bay State Day in the House of Representatives
January 19, 1888
The State of Massachusetts presented, with much fanfare, portraits of four former Speakers of the House, transforming the House Chamber into a veritable picture gallery.
The House acceptance of the Sèvres Vases from France
September 13, 1918
On this date, the White House presented the House of Representatives with a letter from Jules Jusserand, the French Ambassador, offering a gift of two Sévres vases.
The portrait of Peace (The White Squadron in Boston Harbor)
April 14, 1928
After 28 years hanging on the walls of the Naval Affairs Committee hearing room, the House approved the acquisition of Walter Lofthouse Dean’s painting, Peace.
The mysterious artist, C.J. Fox, and the portrait of Merchant Marine and Fisheries Chairman Edward Garmatz of Maryland
October 06, 1968
Representative Edward Garmatz of Maryland celebrated his chairmanship of the Committee on Merchant Marine and Fisheries with the unveiling of his portrait in the committee hearing room.
The House portrait of Melvin Price of Illinois
February 16, 1977
The House of Representatives unveiled a portrait of Armed Services Committee Chairman Melvin Price of Illinois.
The House portrait of Dante Fascell of Florida
April 07, 1987
The House of Representatives unveiled a portrait of Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Dante Fascell of Florida.
The House of Representatives unveiled a portrait of Judiciary Committee Chairman Jack Brooks of Texas
October 29, 1997
The House unveiled a portrait of Representative Jack Brooks of Texas, marking six years of service as chairman of the House Committee on the Judiciary.