First Premium Design for the Capitol of Ohio at Columbus by Walter of Cincinnati

Art Historical Context

Imagine stepping into the ambitious world of 19th-century American architecture with Alexander Jackson Davis's *First Premium Design for the of Ohio at Columbus by of Cincinnati* (ca 1839). This drawing, created in watercolor, ink, and graphite a 16 3/4 x 12 13/16-inch sheet, captures a visionary proposal for Ohio's state capitol. Davis, a figure in the Greek Revival movement submitted this under the pseudonym "Walter of Cincinnati" for a prestigious design competition, earning a top "premium" award and highlighting the era's fervor for grand public buildings inspired by ancient Greek temples. The piece reflects the Greek Revival style's dominance in the young United States, symbolizing democratic ideals through symmetrical facades, pedimented porticos, and towering domes. Ohio's 1839 competition sought a monumental capitol to match its growing stature, and Davis's design—though not ultimately built—showcased innovative planning with balanced wings and classical ornamentation. Such renderings were essential tools for architects, blending precise graphite underdrawings with vivid watercolor washes to persuade committees. Today, housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, 1924), this work offers a glimpse into unbuilt dreams that shaped American civic identity, reminding us how art and architecture intertwined to build a nation's aspirations.

About the Artist

Alexander Jackson Davis · 1803–1892

Alexander Jackson Davis (1803–1892) was a pioneering American architect whose imaginative designs helped define the nation's picturesque country house tradition. Born in New York City on July 24, 1803, Davis received an informal education, studying drawing at the American Academy of the Fine Arts, the New-York Drawing Association, and the antique casts at the National Academy of Design. He apprent...