Statue Of Freedom
About this project
A 32-Inch Replica of the Statue of Freedom
A bronze replica of the figure that crowns the United States Capitol Dome, presented at an accessible scale for museum display.
This 32-inch Statue of Freedom replica is permanently displayed at the Reginald F. Lewis Museum in Baltimore, Maryland.
The replica interprets the monumental figure designed by American sculptor Thomas Crawford. The original bronze stands 19 feet 6 inches tall and has crowned the U.S. Capitol Dome since its final section was installed on December 2, 1863.
Reducing a monumental sculpture requires more than changing its overall height. The silhouette, attributes, drapery and principal surface transitions must remain legible at the smaller scale so viewers can understand the composition at close range.
The museum placement carries added meaning because Philip Reid, an enslaved foundry worker who later became free, played an instrumental role in separating Crawford’s plaster model and helping produce the original Capitol bronze.
A museum-scale replica allows visitors to study a work normally seen hundreds of feet above ground. It turns distant architectural sculpture into an object that can be examined through its pose, symbols, modeling and material.
Historical verification: Architect of the Capitol and U.S. Capitol Visitor Center.