Frederick Douglass, Pierre L’Enfant Considered for Statuary Hall
(Washington, DC) The DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities today announced the selection of two illustrious Washingtonians for commissioning as statues to be placed in Statuary Hall of the US Capitol. After a lengthy process involving an Advisory Committee of historians and art experts reviewing the nominations of more than 50 prominent citizens nominated by public ballot, the 17 Arts Commissioners named Frederick Douglass and Pierre Charles L’Enfant.
Two sculptors will be chosen, and their works will be displayed in the John A. Wilson Building until they can be placed in the United States Capitol as part of the National Statuary Hall Collection. The statues are another step in the efforts by the city for further recognition in the Congress.
Douglass (1817-1895), born a slave in Maryland, is considered the Father of the Civil Rights Movement and an ardent advocate of women’s suffrage. He became a District resident in 1870 and held diplomatic and District appointments from Presidents Garfield and Harrison. His home is a national shrine.
L’Enfant (1754-1825), an architect, engineer and soldier came from France to serve in the American Revolution. George Washington selected him to design the new federal city of Washington. He became an American citizen and spent the remainder of his life here. Washington’s beauty and design is still based on his plans.
Arts Commission Chair, Dorothy McSweeny said, “The concept of creating these statues as a further recognition of the right of our city to stand with the other 50 states was brilliant, and we are indebted to those who sponsored the idea. The process was one of the most deliberative and difficult the Commission has ever undertaken.”
“The history and development of Washington over the years meant that there were many worthy candidates, but our arts commissioners were in agreement in their final selections of Mr. Douglass and Major L’Enfant,” said McSweeny. “I congratulate them because this process required long hours and some very serious discussions over a period of two months."
“On a personal basis, this was even more difficult, because many of the nominees were people we commissioners had actually known and admired, but the final decision seemed clear when it was recognized that the two statues must also stand in the halls of the Capitol beside 100 other giants of American history," she said.
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