Source: Wikimedia Commons („This image is a work of an employee of the Architect of the Capitol, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, all images created or made by the Architect of the Capitol are in the public domain in the United States“)
Standing in a winged chariot (aka: car of history), which represents the passage of time, the muse Clio records events as they unfold in her book.
The marble sculpture is one of the oldest pieces of art in the US
Capitol in Washington D.C. It can be found in the National Statuary
Hall, also known as the Old Hall of the House. This room used to be
the Hall of the House of Representatives until the House Chamber
was moved to a different part of the building in 1857.
About this unique piece of arts creators, who build the Clio marble statue in the U.S. Capitol:
Giuseppe Franzoni (1780 – 1815) arrived in the United States of
America together with a fellow Italian, Giovanni Andrew in 1806.
They both worked on sculptural decorations at the U.S. Capitol in
Washington DC.
In 1814 a fire took place in the U.S. Capitol, so their work was
destroyed. When Giuseppe passed away in the year after, his
younger brother Carl Franzoni (1789 – 1819) travelled to the US to
complete the sculptural work begun by Giuseppe.
Giuseppe and Carl Franzoni, two Italian brothers from Carrara, are
well known for their marble sculptures. Carl Franzoni accomplished
their chief work 1819: The Car of History is among the oldest works
of art in the Capitol.
In 1837 Simon Willard (1753 – 1848), a celebrated U.S.
clockmaker, installed the clockwork.