Capitol at Washington
c. 1850
Medium
hand-colored lithograph on wove paper
Dimensions
image: 20.48 × 31.75 cm (8 1/16 × 12 1/2 in.) sheet: 31.75 × 42.55 cm (12 1/2 × 16 3/4 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Corcoran Collection (Museum Purchase, Mary E. Maxwell Fund)
Accession Number
2015.19.801
Art Historical Context
Behold the majestic *Capitol at Washington*, hand-colored lithograph by Nathaniel Currier, created around 1850. This vibrant print captures the early grandeur of the United States Capitol building in Washington, D.C., during a pivotal era of American expansion and optimism. As the seat of national government, the Capitol symbolized democratic ideals and progress, especially amid the nation's growing pains leading up to the Civil War. Currier, a master of lithography, pioneered affordable, mass-produced images that brought scenic views and current events into American homes. Printed on wove pa...