ArtistCraig J. Sterling
U.S. Capital from Bartholdi Fountain
Date2004
MediumArchival print
Dimensions20 × 20 in. (50.8 × 50.8 cm)
Framed Size: 34 × 33 in. (86.4 × 83.8 cm)
Credit LineDC Commission on the Arts and Humanities Art Bank Collection
Object numberDCCAH2008.013
ClassificationsPhotographs
Locations
- Labor Relations Collective Bargaining (441 4th Street, 820N)
DescriptionTucked away in a corner in the United States Botanic Garden on the grounds of the United States Capitol at the corner of Independence Avenue and First Street, South West, sits a small park-like setting containing the sculpture of Bartholdi Fountain, officially known as “The Fountain of Light and Water.” It was cast around 1876 and placed in its current location in 1932.
Craig Sterling’s image of the fountain and park-like setting is reminiscent of the romantic images of Paris made at the turn of the 20th century by French photographer, Eugene Atget.
Sterling photographs exclusively in black and white, lending a timeless feel to his photographs.
Having lived in the Washington, D.C. area for most of his life, Sterling had either walked or driven by Bartholdi Fountain on many occasions. However, late one spring evening while on the way home from Capitol Hill, Sterling noticed that the tulips surrounding
the fountain were in full bloom. The next evening Sterling returned, armed with his Hasselblad camera, wide-angle lens and tripod.
The fountain was lit perfectly … not a single light was out … which was not typically the case. Water was cascading gently over the rim of the fountain. Since it was late in the evening, there were no pedestrians in sight. After several different exposures and compositions, Sterling was confident he had captured the beautifully lit fountain and cascading water.
The image “U.S. Capitol from Bartholdi Fountain” was made in 2004 and remains one of Sterling’s most iconic images of Washington, D.C.’s historic treasures.
