George Washington (Canova)

George Washington (Canova) refers to a marble sculpture of George Washington created by Italian sculptor Antonio Canova between 1817 and 1820. Commissioned by the state of North Carolina in 1816, the statue depicted Washington in Roman military attire, specifically as a Roman general addressing troops. He is portrayed writing his farewell address on a tablet.

The statue arrived in Raleigh, North Carolina, in 1821 and was placed in the rotunda of the North Carolina State House. It quickly became a celebrated symbol of the state and a prominent landmark. The statue's neoclassical style, representing Washington as a virtuous and republican leader, resonated with the ideals of the early American republic.

Tragically, the original George Washington (Canova) statue was destroyed in a fire that burned down the North Carolina State House on June 21, 1831. The loss of the statue was deeply mourned.

After the destruction of the original, several attempts were made to recreate or replace it. A bronze replica, cast from a plaster model based on Canova's original, now stands in the North Carolina Museum of History. While not the original masterpiece, it serves as a reminder of the lost artwork and its significance in North Carolina's history. The plaster model used for the bronze cast is also preserved.