Cass Gilbert and Hermon MacNeil – The Supreme Court Building in Washington, D.C. ~~ 1932-1934.

After the adoption of the US Constitution in 1789 and for the next 146 years, the United States Supreme Court had no permanent home.   Briefly from 1789 to 1800, the Federal Government functioned out of Philadelphia, and then New York City until the permanent Capitol was built in the District of Columbia.  Finally, in 1800 the U.S. Federal Government moved into Washington, D.C.

Painting: “British Burn the Capitol, 1814,” Allyn Cox, 1974, Corridor, House wing, First Floor.

The Supreme Court of the United States, however, changed its meeting place a half dozen times within the Capitol.  After the British burned the Capitol in the War of 1812, the Court convened in a private home.  Eventually, from 1860 until 1935, the Court sat in what is now known as the “Old Senate Chamber.”

Hermon Atkins MacNeil (1866 -1947)

Cass Gilbert architect (1859 – 1934)

Though considered a co-equal branch, the Judicial function seemed a “nomadic” tenant of space in the growing Capitol until 1929.  A former President, who later served as Chief Justice, changed that itinerant existence.

Chief Justice Wm. Howard Taft 1921

In 1929 Chief Justice William Howard Taft, who had been President of the United States from 1909 to 1913, persuaded Congress to end this arrangement and authorize the construction of a permanent home for the Court.  Architect Cass Gilbert was charged by Chief Justice Taft to design “a building of dignity and importance suitable for its use as the permanent home of the Supreme Court of the United States.”  [Gilbert and Taft were both Ohioans and life long friends.]

Neither Taft nor Gilbert survived to see the Supreme Court Building completed. Construction proceeded under the direction of Chief Justice Hughes and architects Cass Gilbert, Jr., and John R. Rockart. The construction, begun in 1932, was completed in 1935, when the Court was finally able to occupy its own building.

Hermon MacNeil and Architects

Hermon MacNeil trained in Paris at the Ecole de Beaux Arts with both sculptors and architects.  He later won the Reinhart Prize and again studied with architects and sculptors from 1896 to 1899 at the American Academy in Rome.

The New York Architectural League wanted an award medallion to present to architects and sculptors.  They commissioned Hermon MacNeil to create a suitable medal.   Photos of MacNeil’s original clay masters may be viewed here: [CLICK HERE].   These clay were reduced onto the steel dies used  press the final medallions pictured below.

Later A. A. Weinman and Hermon MacNeil were both awarded this commemorative creation.  Weinman designed the Walking Liberty half dollar and the Mercury dime 

The actual medal presented to Weinman is pictured below.  It resides in the webmaster’s private collection.

New York Architectural League Medal.  Designed by Hermon MacNeil this is the actual medallion awarded to A. A. Weinmann.  https://www.pafa.org/museum/collection/item/medal-honor-sculpture-architectural-league-new-york Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts

Hermon MacNeil and Cass Gilbert

MacNeil added sculptures to at least two of Cass Gilbert’s many buildings and monument projects.

1. United States Supreme Court

   1928-1935[9]

   Washington, DC

2. St. Louis Art Museum

   1901-1904[12]

   Saint Louis, MO

MacNeil & the Supreme Court Building

The Supreme Court website suggests Gilbert was directly involved with the sculptor’s designs.

Cass Gilbert, the building’s architect, worked closely with MacNeil from 1932 to 1934 to create the thirteen symmetrically balanced figures above the Corinthian portico. 

The central marble figures on this rarely noticed eastern pediment depict the theme “Justice – The Guardian of Liberty.”  Sculptor MacNeil’s central figures represent three great Eastern civilizations from which our laws are derived.  These figures portray lawgivers: Moses (receiver of Hebrew Ten Commandments) flanked by Confucius (Chinese philosopher and teacher) and Solon (Athenian lawmaker, statesman, and poet).  Confucius is on the viewers’ left, Solon to the right, both flanking Moses with his hands on two separate tablets. ¹

MacNeil & the St. Louis Art Museum (Palace of Fine Arts).

To view this collaboration from 1912: CLICK HERE 

Photos:

Research Sources:

1. Cass Gilbert Society: Selected Works.  Retrieved at https://www.cassgilbertsociety.org/works/  on May, 20, 2023
   
2. Cass Gilbert Society: Biography.  Retrieved at https://www.cassgilbertsociety.org/architect/bio.html  on May, 20, 2023