Fouquet was a master craftsman in the French architectural modelmaking tradition of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth century. His earliest known work is the model for Virginia's Capitol. The original model, which is on display at the College of William & Mary, was cast in bronze by John Carter (also responsible for the Washington Monument). It is about 29 inches high, 22 inches wide, and weighs approximately 15 pounds.
After casting the model, Fouquet traveled to Richmond where he stayed in a house that is now part of the University of Virginia. He made several more models for other cities across the country, but none as famous as his first effort. In 1847, after many years of labor, Fouquet died in Richmond at the age of 56.
The design of the Virginia Capitol was one of many projects undertaken by Thomas Jefferson during his time as governor of Virginia. The building was designed by British architect James Hoban in 1772-1775. It features an impressive dome surrounded by eight columns with Ionic capitals. The interior of the capitol is decorated with marble imported from Italy and Greece.
When Virginia voted to adopt a new state constitution in 1851, it was decided that the existing Capitol should be replaced with a new structure.
Fouquet's model was made of plaster of Paris and was built at a scale of 1:60, or one inch every five feet. It was not until 18 months later that the first piece of stone was laid by William Jay, the governor's secretary. The capitol was not completed until seven years after it was begun. Fouquet is believed to have died before he could see his creation come to life.
The exterior is mostly limestone, with some bluestone used for decorative effects. The interior features marble from Carrara, Italy, painted ceilings, fine woodwork, and bronze doors donated by various countries around the world.
Virginia's Capitol was added to the National Register of Historic Places on March 23, 1974.
It is currently under renovation and will be closed to the public while this work is going on. Some of the changes being made to the building include improved accessibility for people with disabilities, new security measures, and updated environmental systems.
When it reopens in 2014, it will be a lot more energy-efficient as well.
I think what you can see here is an example of Roman architecture. The parts that are still standing today were probably built first, around 1772.
Late in 1786, the plaster model for Virginia's Capitol arrived in Richmond. Along with Clerisseau's sketches of his design, Jefferson wanted to produce "models of the front and side... in plaister of Paris." The actual building was not completed until 1811, but it was during this time that Jefferson began work on these models.
Jefferson designed the Capitol under the direction of President George Washington. The initial proposal called for a domed structure with an interior of Doric columns and marble floors, but this idea was soon changed to use Greek Revival architecture as its basis. In addition, the size of the project was reduced, the cost was controlled, and slave labor was used instead of free labor. By 1810, the exterior walls were finished and the dome was topped off, but construction was halted because of financial difficulties. Work on the building was resumed after Congress passed legislation authorizing the state to issue bonds to pay for it.
The original plan called for a floor area of about 14,000 square feet, but this was later increased to about 16,500 square feet. The entire building was not quite complete when Congress authorized its completion, so the unfinished portion is also known as the "temporary" or "unfinished" capitol.
The Virginia State Capitol was inspired by the Maison Carree, an old Roman temple in Nimes, France. Photographer: Public Domain. Jefferson requested that a 1:60 scale model be sent back to Richmond. The original plaster model is still on display at the Virginia State Capitol.
Jefferson was a great admirer of Ancient Rome and its culture. The Maison Carree was a popular monument in Nîmes because it was believed to have been built by the god Apollo. It was one of many temples built in Gaul (modern-day France) during the time of the Roman Empire. Jefferson wanted to see how this particular temple compared to others he had seen while traveling through Europe.
He traveled to Scotland and England to inspect their state capitals. He returned home via Paris and Belgium.
The Maison Carree was unique because it was designed with the average citizen in mind. There were no famous artists or writers who needed a private room when visiting Nîmes, so the only rooms available are what we now call public spaces. These include the hall where meetings were held, the arena where games were played, and the theater where plays were performed for paying customers.
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