Commonwealth (statue)
| Commonwealth | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| Artist | Roland Hinton Perry |
| Year | 1905 |
| Type | Gilded statue |
| Location | Harrisburg, Pennsylvania |
Commonwealth is a 14-foot-6-inch (4.42 m) gilded statue atop the dome of the Pennsylvania State Capitol in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It is nicknamed Miss Penn and the Spirit of the Commonwealth.[1] It is also sometimes called Letitia, after the daughter of William Penn, the assumed inspiration for the statue.
Description
[edit]Commonwealth is the "symbolic embodiment" of a commonwealth. It stands on a 4 feet (1.2 m) diameter globe and holds a staff, to symbolize justice, in its left hand.[1] The staff is topped with a garland and an eagle with outstretched wings. Its right arm is eternally extended in benediction and blessing of the state.[1]
History
[edit]
Commonwealth was sculpted by Roland Hinton Perry and was installed on the dome on May 25, 1905. The statue was removed for restoration by helicopter in the summer of 1998.[1] The statue was placed back onto the dome by Skycrane in September of the same year, after restoration.
Commonwealth is shown on the Pennsylvania state quarter, released in 1999.
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d "The Capitol" (PDF). Pennsylvania House of Representatives. p. 22. Archived from the original (PDF) on January 15, 2009. Retrieved September 21, 2009.