The third and final stop on the short tour was National Statuary Hall, the meeting place of the US House of Representatives from 1807 to 1857 and now home to part of a collection of 100 sculptures around the Capitol, two from each US state.

Above the door leading into the Capitol Rotunda is the “Car of History” by Carlo Franzoni, carved in 1819. This neoclassical marble sculpture depicts Clio, the Muse of History, riding in the chariot of Time and recording events in the former US House of Representatives chamber below. The wheel of the chariot contains the chamber clock; the works are by Simon Willard.

This is an older capture of this work. I took one during our recent visit but literally as I was walking out the door; I couldn’t stop because if you lose your tour group, you risk the wrath of the Capitol Police (and I got separated from them several times because of taking pictures ;-)).

Iridescent, posted earlier: