George Washington (1732-1799) c. 1902

Editor: This is Daniel Chester French's bronze bust of George Washington, a classical figure we still see everywhere. What symbolic weight do you think this sculpture carries? Curator: The bust form itself evokes Roman authority, doesn't it? The laurel wreath above and the inscription below are also signifiers of knowledge and virtue. What continuities do you see between this representation and earlier depictions of leaders? Editor: I see the Roman influence, definitely. It's interesting how artists choose to portray power across different eras. Curator: Indeed. It shows how carefully constructed and maintained, the image of authority always is.