Is there a connection between opulence and the decline of empire? Who cares, suggests Chad Mizelle, Trump's 2025 former Deputy Attorney General, as he comments on the tourism draw of gilded statues and the "opulence of the epicenter of once-great civilizations," without a shred of self-awareness.
Anyway, feels like you could write an entire thesis over these two posts. It’s funny because the statues were a gift from Italy in the 1970s.
Yes, and the photo exemplifies America’s stunning architecture and beauty
Whoops, sorry, 1951, not 1970s. 1970s was the last time they were re-gilded. Having firmed my dates now, they are bronze statues that were in fact gilded when Italy gave them to us in 1951, and then re-gilded as part of maintenance in 1974, so, much as I am loathe to admit it, the use of gilding is historically accurate. I've been struggling to find historical photos. Anyway, if you want to go to DC to see a statue of a chonky man and a chonky horse, may I interest you in the much greater Man Controlling Trade statues outside the FTC?