Existing comment:
Symbolizing the Law:
" 'Ad astra!' my dear Aitken. I expect a masterpiece from you! A composition that will be worthy of the great Supreme Court -- stately, serene, calm, well balanced and yet vital and interesting."
-- Cass Gilbert to Robert Aitken, July 1932
Cass Gilbert did not design the Supreme Court Building singlehandedly. While its final design is uniquely his, a team of draftsmen, modelers and sculptors helped to develop its complex architectural details. Gilbert focused on the overall function and design, leaving the symbolism to the individual sculptors as long as their work was in keeping with the overall classical style. To ensure the desired effect, he insisted on selecting the modelers and sculptors rather than allow the work to be awarded through the government's bid process. With the approval of the Building Commission, he chose five prominent artists who created the rich sculptural program that reflects the iconography of the Supreme Court. Like the overall architectural style, the symbols they used were drawn from a long tradition in which symbols of Justice, Authority, and portrayals of the Great Lawgivers had been adorning courts of law for centuries. |