The United States Capitol Building

Raul Pantojas

Professor Bomboy

HUM. 101

Writing Assignment 1

09/12/15

The United States Capitol Building

When you think of our Capitol building in Washington D.C. what comes to mind? Does the style and layout remind you of something familiar? I would expect so, seeing as how our Capitol building takes many inspirations from ancient Greek classical designs. As one of the most celebrated and recognizable Greek Revival-style buildings in the United States, the Capitol Building is the home of Congress, the US Senate and House of Representatives. It was designed by William Thornton, Benjamin Latrobe and Charles Bulfinch. With countless columns, the way it sits on a plateaus above the Potomac, and maybe most importantly its symmetrical dimensions, it is quite simple to see how our founding fathers wanted to pay homage to the founders of democracy.

Modeled on the Greek Corinthian order, the most ornate Greek style, (Esperdy and Kingsley) complete with slender columns decorated with acanthus leaves and scrolls. The columns seem to remain the same size vertically, and the columns of the other two orders appear to get fatter at the bottoms (Fiero 123). The exterior of the Capitol Building contains examples of a modified Corinthian column style, including the East Front center portico and the West Front (Architect of the capitol). On the first floor of the Capitol’s House wing is the elegant high ceilinged Hall of Columns, which takes its name from the 28 fluted, white marble columns that line the corridor. The column capitals are a variation on the Corinthian order, incorporating not only classical acanthus leaves (a common plant found in the Mediterranean), but also thistles and Native American tobacco plants. Earlier uses of American vegetation in the building's capitals include Benjamin Henry Latrobe's corncob capitals in a first-floor vestibule and his tobacco-leaf capitals in the Small Senate Rotunda (Architect of the capitol). The Corinthian order was employed because the Capitol was perceived as the most important building in the federal city and therefore merited the most lavish ornamentation.

Looking at the Capitol building gives me a sense of familiarity and a spike in Patriotic pride. The Corinthian order that was used as a model for this building, greatly increases the sense of democracy that radiates from its architectural design. Its elegant and symmetrical layout gives off a sense of order and formality that reflects the buildings use as our Country’s central hub.

The Capitol's architecture displays the broad American aspirations and rich history. It also stands as a symbol of the American spirit and tenacity of us as a whole nation.  Since the completion of its construction, the capitol has been burned down by the British during the war of 1812, and has been consistently under renovations. Conceived in the spirit of ancient republics, slowly built to embody the political and social values of the Constitution and nurtured by the continuous unfolding of national events.

Many architects continue to admire and attempt to recreate Palladio's style. This revival of Palladianism eventually becomes a popular trend during the 17th, 18th and early 19th century in Europe and the United States of America. Thomas Jefferson was a notable supporter as were Benjamin Latrobe and presented the United States Capitol building (1793-1829) as a version of Palladianism (Visual Arts Cork).

The influence of the ancients is extremely prevalent throughout America, but the Capitol building in Washington D.C. may be one of the best examples of the Corinthian order and Palladianism. I truly believe that the architects of the Capitol building wanted to convey a sense of democracy. I also believe that they wanted to pay homage to the elder architects and inspire future architects and citizens of this great nation to always strive for their best.

Work Cited

09/12/15

"United States Capitol" in SAH Archipedia, eds. Gabrielle Esperdy and Karen Kingsley.             Charlottesville: UVaP, 2012—, http://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/DC-01-CH01   Accessed 2015-09-12.

Scott, Pamela. "'Temple of Liberty Building a Capitol for a New Nation." 'Temple of          Liberty' (March 20, 1995). 10 Mar. 1995. Web. 13 Sept. 2015.   http://www.loc.gov/loc/lcib/9506/capitol.html

Fiero, Gloria K. The Humanistic Tradition. 6th ed. Vol. 1. New York: McGraw-Hill,

2011. Print.

"Explore Capitol Hill." Corinthian Columns. Web. 13 Sept. 2015.      http://www.aoc.gov/capitol-hill/architecture-elements/corinthian-columns.