The Marble Walls Of Congress

Marble is used throughout the u s.

The marble walls of congress.

Capitol building the congressional office buildings and many other government and commercial buildings for its beauty durability and relative ease of carving. The 23 marble relief portraits over the gallery doors of the house chamber in the u s. In 1949 50 the senate chamber underwent a reconstruction that involved the removal of the skylight and a redesign of the room s walls. Entrance vestibule library of congress john adams building 2011 i find it amazing that almost seventy three years later i have uncovered this useful list and am able to share it with you.

In place of the chamber s original cast iron pilasters newer red levanto marble pilasters were installed. Aptly named the marble room is a long narrow space just outside the senate chamber between the vice president s office and the president s room. Netanyahu was referencing a marble relief that has hung in the house chamber since 1950. If you are looking for a warmer ambience creams and browns are perfection.

The wooden rostrum was replaced with a newer larger version made of marble. Israeli prime minister benjamin netanyahu referenced a sculpture of moses in congress during his speech. Its magic is capable of radically transforming a room. The names of fifteen library of congress employees who died in world war ii are inscribed on a marble panel beneath the mural.

They were installed when the chamber was remodeled in 1949 1950. Henry oliver walker also painted the smaller lunettes along the south and north walls. It forms exterior surfaces and such interior elements as floors walls columns and stairways. And if you prefer to awaken the senses reds and blacks never fail.

With its ceiling of veined italian marble walls of dark tennessee marble and ornate mirrors that reflect a magnificent chandelier the marble room is one of the capitol s most unique spaces. It features 11 foot walls of oak paneling wood carving in the arches over the doors a beamed ceiling with paintings in the ceiling panels fireplace mantels of italian siena marble at the north and south ends of the room and mosaics over the mantels. If you wish to gain in luminosity white or rose marble achieves it with ease. Created in bas relief of white vermont marble by seven different sculptors the plaques each measure 28 inches in diameter.