Evening star., 1938-11-20
Capital Side|ights
Bu Will p. Kennedy

The work of restoring" the eight large
12 by 10 feet historic oil paintings in
the rotunda in the Capitol is nearly COM
pleted without extraordinary cost to the
Government There are many interest
ing facts about these paintings which the
guides never mention to tourists. but
which have been cleaned during more
than a quarter of century of intensive
study by Charles E. Fairman, curator OF
art works IN the Capitol Buildings.
While the central portion of the Cap
itol was still only plans upon paper,
soon after the only paintings belonging to
the Capitol had been burned by the
British. a resolution was introduced in
the Senate on January l3. 1877, author
izing the President to employ Col. John
Trumbull of Connecticut to execute a
painting commemorative Of the Declara-
ton of Independence. The authorization
later was enlarged to provide for four
paintings by this artist. to be placed in
the rotunda. the three others being the
Surrender of Burgoyne at Saratoga the
Surrender of CORVALLIS at Yorktown"
and the resignation of his commission to
Congress by Gen. Washington at Annap
oils The President approved the legis-
latlon on February g. the same year.
Execution of this commission occupied
more than SIX years. and the amount paid
was $4,000 The walls of the rOtunda
were specially constructed to provide
proper panels for these and four other
historical paintings
Each of the eight large paintings in
cluGes a number of portraits-for exam
pie. in the one depicting the signing OF
the Declaration of Independence there
are Al INDIVIDUAL portraits: in the Sur
render of Gen Burgoyne.' q individual
portraits; in the Surrender of Lord
Corvallis" a. and in Gen. Washington
resigning his commission, 81 portraits.
Nine years after the Trumbull paint
employed to waterproof them against
dampness. He himself said that "the
material which forms the basis of these
paintings is linen cloth, whose strength
and texture is very similar to that used in
the topgallant sails of ship of war"
He stripped the paintings and with hot
irons rubbed melted beeswax into the
back of each CLOTH Even at that early
date the work of vandals was apparent.
Col. Trumbull was obliged to restore "the
right foot of Gen. Morgan 'of the Vir-
ginia Rifemen) in the picture of Sara
toea." which had been cut out by
penknife-and the scars are still dis
cernible.
Three other large paintings were in
stalled in the rotunda in 1886 and 1847
the "Embarkation of the Pilgrims" by
Robert Walter Weir; the Baptism of
Pocahontas, by John G. Chapman, and
the Landing Of Columbus" by John
Vanderlyn. The Discovery of the Mis-
sissippi by De Solo," in l54l, by William
H. Powell, was not placed there until
some years later. Vanderlyn also did
the full-length portrait of Washington
as a companion piece for the portrait OF
LAFAYETTE in the House chamber. He
was pupil of Gilbert Stuart and friend
and protege of Aaron Burr. He died
penniless and alone in hotel in his
native town. The Embarkation of the
Pilgrims is the only painting by Weir in
the Capitol. He studied under famous
masters in Florence and Rome and was
professional at the age of 20. He held
the position of professor Of drawing at
West Point Military Academy for 40
years, and became the instructor Of
James McNeill Whistler. During the
building of the new Capitol dome fall
ing beam damaged this painting. Prof.
Weir repaired this injury in 1861. having
a special detail from the War Depart
ment for that purpose.
THE Baptism of Pocahontas" (at
jamestown, Va, 1879 was painted by
Chapman in the loft of a stable on G
street which belonged to the Clephane
family. Chapman was born in Alexan-
dria. He taught wood engraving. was
noted, as an etcher, Illustrated Harper's
Bible, and was author of drawing book
which sold to many editions in this
country and Great Britain. He spent
much Of his life in Italy.
There Is legend that employees about
the Capitol posed for w. H. Powell In
his painting Of "Perrys Victory on Lake