America

Hiram Powers, born Woodstock, VT 1805-died Florence, Italy 1873 · modeled 1848-1850

This bust was taken from the full-size statue America. Toward the end of the 1840s, Hiram Powers decided to create a sculpture that would stand in the U.S. Capitol. He did not receive a commission for this, but hoped that when members of Congress saw his design they would request a marble replica. He never found a buyer for the statue, however, and the only marble version he produced was destroyed in a fire in 1865. Powers was frustrated and disappointed at his government's lack of interest, but America eventually brought the artist a number of requests for replicas. The figure represents America's freedom from tyranny. Her crown is adorned with thirteen stars to represent the original states of the Union.