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Federal Courthouse Diptych #1
Image Not Available for Federal Courthouse Diptych #1

Federal Courthouse Diptych #1

Artist
Year1994
Classification painting
Medium oil on canvas
Dimensions72 x 48 in. (182.9 x 121.9 cm)
Credits Commissioned through the Art in Architecture Program
Fine Arts Collection
U.S. General Services Administration
Location
  • Two paintings, flanking the courtroom entrance, are arched in a Romanesque architectural configuration and are consistent with the building's interior details.  The paintings are two interior still-lifes, containing artifacts reflecting the cultural diversity of the Courts.  The contents of the two paintings echo the architectural motifs of the interior; trying to incorporate the color, texture, and especially the architectural design elements as the settings for still life. One of the paintings alludes to a Colorado landscape with agricultural and mountainous elements. The other contains oblique and subtle symbolism regarding the activities of the courts. The arched doorways in the paintings invite the viewer to enter the judicial process and provide a sense of well-being. In both paintings, the colors are darker at the top, blending to lighter colors at the bottom. The background is a brightly lighted space, drawing the viewer into the composition. The work is figurative and realistic; it is framed with wide moldings and elegantly carved with gilt liners.