Gazing up at the imposing Treasury Building, have you ever considered the man whose legacy is etched in bronze right here? This, my friends, is the statue of Alexander Hamilton. He stands watch over the very institution he shaped, a testament to his enduring impact on the nation’s financial foundations. Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, wasn’t just a name on a ten-dollar bill. He was a soldier, orator, and statesman, a driving force behind the Constitution and a champion of national integrity. This statue, dedicated in 1923, captures him in all his 18th-century glory. See how he holds his tricorn hat and long dress coat? He’s dressed in the fashion of his time: knee breeches, a throat fichu, buckled shoes, and ruffled cuffs. The sculptor, James Earle Fraser, even enlisted Charles Atlas, the famed bodybuilder, to pose for the statue. The bronze Hamilton stands ten feet tall, perched upon a nine-foot granite base designed by Henry Bacon. The base itself is a storybook of Hamilton’s achievements. The front inscription hails him as the “First Secretary of the Treasury, Soldier, Orator, Statesman, Champion of Constitutional Union, Representative Government and National Integrity.” Turn to the rear, and you’ll find the sculptor’s signature and the foundry mark – “Fraser 1922” and “A. Kunst Foundry NY.” The north face bears a powerful quote, describing Hamilton’s financial genius: “He smote the rock of the national resources and abundant streams of revenue gushed forth. He touched the dead corpse of the public credit and it sprang upon its feet.” Sadly, due to increased security measures after 9/11, getting up close to Hamilton isn’t as easy as it once was. But even from afar, his presence is undeniable. He stands as a reminder of the vision and determination that built this nation’s financial strength. It is a legacy that continues to resonate within the walls of the Treasury Building and beyond.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to