George Washington by Horatio Greenough

Greenough used a classical, heroic style to present Washington as a leader who gave power back to the people, not as a literal everyday portrait. The marble figure borrows the visual language of ancient Greek and Roman rulers, including a robe, sandals, and a raised arm. [National Museum of American History](https://www.americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/george-washington-sculpture)

Congress commissioned it in 1832 for the centennial of Washington's birth, and Greenough completed the marble work in 1840. It was intended for the U.S. Capitol Rotunda, where it was installed in 1841. [Smithsonian factsheet](https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/horatio-greenough-s-george-washington)

The sculpture is displayed at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C., as part of the Smithsonian collections. Smithsonian records describe it as a 12-ton marble statue transferred from the Capitol after earlier moves around the Capitol grounds. [Smithsonian factsheet](https://www.si.edu/newsdesk/factsheets/horatio-greenough-s-george-washington)

The chair includes classical and national symbols: Apollo in a chariot represents enlightenment, while Hercules rescuing Iphicles represents courage. The work also includes figures representing Columbus and a Native American, reflecting the 19th-century idea of a heroic American nation. [National Museum of American History](https://www.americanhistory.si.edu/explore/exhibitions/george-washington-sculpture)