Topping the Dome

In 1835 Thomas Crawford leaves America to study with the world's premier sculptor in Rome. This true story takes him back and forth between the ancient capitol of Rome and the new capitol of America, Washington. Art and politics collide as his patrons in America struggle to have his work accepted by a Congress bitterly divided over the issue of slavery. Crawford would eventually create more sculpture for the Capitol than any other sculptor. With the country at war, President Lincoln refuses to halt the construction of the Capitol extension and in the midst of the Civil War Crawford's greatest work, the statue of Freedom, is hoisted to the top of the Capitol Dome December 2, 1863. Three other men, Charles Sumner, a staunch abolitionist, Senator, and ideologue, Clark Mills, a self-taught sculptor and opportunist, and the supervisor of construction for the Capitol, Captain Montgomery C. Meigs, an autocratic achiever play major roles in this confrontation between art and politics and the career of Thomas Crawford. The careers of these three amazing men mirror Crawford's during this tumultuous period leading up to the Civil War. 2013 will be the 150th anniversary of topping the dome with Crawford's sculpture. The book also includes 25 pictures.