House Chamber Stereoview

Object Details

This popular view of the House Chamber from the visitor’s gallery—along with other versions that vary only slightly—was published by Bell and Brother, a Washington, D.C., studio in 1868. The gallery view was a photographer’s favorite because it showed several interesting details of the Chamber. John Vanderlyn’s 1834 George Washington portrait and its pendant, the Marquis de Lafayette, can be seen on either side of the marble rostrum. Constantino Brumidi’s fresco Cornwallis Sues for Cessation of Hostilities, depicting General Washington receiving a British emissary in his tent, is also included in the view, on the back wall of the Chamber. Moreover, this was the same perspective as that of a tourist, reinforcing the concept of the stereoview as proxy for a personal visit to a site.