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Anonymous ID: dcf2d5 Aug. 28, 2023, 12:35 p.m. No.19449082   🗄️.is 🔗kun

Relief Portrait Plaques of Lawgivers

 

The 23 marble relief portraits over the gallery doors of the House Chamber in the U.S. Capitol depict historical figures noted for their work in establishing the principles that underlie American law. They were installed when the chamber was remodeled in 1949-1950. Created in bas relief of white Vermont marble by seven different sculptors, the plaques each measure 28 inches in diameter.

 

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BreadcrumbHOMEEXPLORE THE CAPITOL CAMPUSTHE ART COLLECTION

Relief Portrait Plaques of Lawgivers

 

The Basics

ARTIST

Various

MATERIALS

Marble

YEAR

1950

LOCATION

House Chamber

The 23 marble relief portraits over the gallery doors of the House Chamber in the U.S. Capitol depict historical figures noted for their work in establishing the principles that underlie American law. They were installed when the chamber was remodeled in 1949-1950. Created in bas relief of white Vermont marble by seven different sculptors, the plaques each measure 28 inches in diameter.

 

IMAGE

Map of portraits in the House Chamber.

Map of portraits in the House Chamber.

The 11 profiles in the eastern half of the chamber face left and the 11 in the western half face right, so that all look towards the full-face relief of Moses in the center of the north wall.

 

The subjects of the reliefs were chosen by scholars from the University of Pennsylvania and the Columbia Historical Society of Washington, D.C., in consultation with authoritative staff members of the Library of Congress. The selection was approved by a special committee of five Members of the House of Representatives and the Architect of the Capitol.

 

The plaster models for these reliefs are on display on the walls in the Rayburn House Office Building subway terminal.

 

Alfonso X

Edward I

Gaius

George Mason

Gregory IX

Hammurabi

Hugo Grotius

Innocent III

Jean Baptiste Colbert

Justinian I

Lycurgus

Maimonides

Moses

Napoleon I

Papinian

Robert Joseph Pothier

Saint Louis

Simon de Montfort

Solon

Suleiman

Thomas Jefferson

Tribonian

Sir William Blackstone

 

https://www.aoc.gov/explore-capitol-campus/art/relief-portrait-plaques-lawgivers