Discovery of America (statue)

Discovery of America
Artist Luigi Persico
Year 1844
Type White marble
Dimensions 486.4 cm × 255.3 cm × 184.2 cm ( 191 1⁄2 in ×  100 1⁄2 in ×  72 1⁄2 in)
Location
Formerly East Facade of the United States Capitol
(In storage), Washington, DC

Discovery of America (1837–50) is a large marble sculpture group, by Luigi Persico, assembled in front of the east façade of the United States Capitol building.

History

It was commissioned in 1837, modeled in 1839, and carved in 1840-1843. It was exhibited at the east façade of the United States Capitol, from 1844 until 1958, when it was removed and never restored.[1]

After years of protest, in 1958, both Discovery and another statue of similar nature, The Rescue by Horatio Greenough, were removed from the east façade in preparation for the building’s extension. They were placed in storage and — without public discussion — never restored.[2]

Description

Both Discovery (left) and Rescue (right) are visible in this image of Abraham Lincoln's 1861 inauguration.

The statue depicts Christopher Columbus holding aloft a globe as an Indian maiden, cowering nearby, looks on. The depiction of Columbus is very different from the traditional portraits, rendering him as a bearded, hawk-faced and stern-eyed figure clad in traditional Conquistador armour. Usually Columbus is shown in flowing Renaissance robes with an astrolabe or a spyglass in hand to represent his title of "Admiral of the Ocean".

Fate

The statue is said to be in poor condition.[3]

References

  1. ↑ "Discovery of America, (sculpture).". Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture. Retrieved February 14, 2012.
  2. ↑ Fryd, Vivien Green (1987), “Two Sculptures for the Capitol: Horatio Greenough's ‘Rescue’ and Luigi Persico's ‘Discovery of America’” American Art Journal, Vol. 19, No. 2 (Spring, 1987), pg 93.
  3. ↑ Fryd, Op. cit., pg 96.
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