View source for Progress of the State

{{Short description|Sculpture at the Minnesota State Capitol}}
{{italic title}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2025}}
[[Image:Progress of the State.jpg|thumb|right|300px|The ''Progress of the State'' [[quadriga]] at the base of the [[Minnesota State Capitol]] dome.]]
'''''Progress of the State''''' is the title of a group of [[statue|sculptural figures]] that sits above the south [[portico]], at the main entrance to the [[Minnesota State Capitol]] in [[Saint Paul, Minnesota|Saint Paul]], the [[state capital]] of the [[U.S. state]] of [[Minnesota]].

The [[Allegory|allegorical]] statuary group representing civilization is in an arrangement known as a ''[[quadriga]]'', consisting of a [[chariot]] pulled by four horses. Three human figures, two women and a man, are included. The sculpture, made by [[Daniel Chester French]] and [[Edward Clark Potter]], was based on their earlier Columbus Quadriga statuary, at the [[World's Columbian Exposition]] of 1893 in Chicago. It was completed and raised to the roof of the capitol in 1906. The underlying [[armature (sculpture)|armature]] is [[steel]] covered in [[copper]]. The exterior copper surface is gilded in 23 karat [[gold leaf]] and requires re-gilding  approximately every 20 years.

==Design==
The quadriga arrangement is a style of statue reproducing ancient [[Ancient Greece|Greek]] and [[Ancient Rome|Roman]] four-horse chariots.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Gaietto |first=Pietro |title=Horse and Wheel |year=2018 |isbn=9780244657512 |pages=30 |publisher=Lulu.com |language=English}}</ref> In the Minnesota quadriga the male charioteer holds aloft a variation of a [[Roman legion|Roman Legion]] standard inscribed with the state name <small>MINNESOTA</small>.

[[File:Columbus Quadriga-World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Columbus Quadriga-World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, Illinois - 1893]]In his design for the Capitol, architect Cass Gilbert left out the classical triangular pediment favored in the [[Neoclassical architecture|Neoclassical]] and [[Beaux-Arts architecture|Beaux-Arts]] government architecture of the time and instead in its place installed a quadriga monument at the base of the dome. The quadriga is unusual in that it sits atop a building's portico, rather than upon a triumphal arch like most others. The inspiration for the Minnesota quadriga was the Columbus Quadriga, a statue depicting [[Christopher Columbus]] standing in a four horse chariot guided by two maidens carrying staffs of victory that Daniel Chester French and Edward Clark Potter had modeled for the [[World's Columbian Exposition]] of 1893 in Chicago. Potter was a specialist in equestrian and other animal sculptures who teamed up with French to create the four horses in the monument.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edward Clark Potter |url=https://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/library-lions/edward-clark-potter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220215081115/https://www.nypl.org/help/about-nypl/library-lions/edward-clark-potter |archive-date=February 15, 2022 |access-date=2022-02-15 |website=New York Public Library}}</ref> Gilbert saw this quadriga group at and made plans to have artists adapt it for Minnesota.<ref name="Thompson1">{{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Neil B. |title=Minnesota's State Capitol: The Art and Politics of a Public Building |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |year=2005 |isbn=0-87351-085-2 |pages=75–76}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last=Roethke |first=Leigh |title=Minnesota's Capitol: A Centennial Story |publisher=Afton Historical Society Press |year=2005 |isbn=1-890434-67-1 |pages=62–63}}</ref>

The Board had two options for how French could render the group. By French's estimates in 1896 he could cast it in [[bronze]] for $49,500 or make it from hammered copper for $36,000. The 1903 state appropriation set aside $35,000 for the group "to be executed in copper." French continued to hope to cast the Quadriga in bronze, as late as spring of 1906, but Gilbert communicated the Board's refusal: "However much they would like to use bronze they have not the money available for this purpose, as their appropriation is now all engaged in finishing up various minor items which are regarded as essential." The statuary was then executed in hammered copper surrounding a framework of steel supports.<ref name="Thompson1" /><ref name="O'Sullivan" />

While the statuary was generally well received, there was push back from veteran groups, politicians and the Minnesota Historical Society over the use of allegorical figures throughout the Capitol instead of representations of Minnesota heroes and historic events.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota State Capitol: Overview of the Fine Art 2015 |url=https://mn.gov/admin/assets/overview-of-fine-art-in-capitol-MNHS_tcm36-74302.pdf |url-status=live |access-date=2022-02-15 |website=Minnesota Department of Administration |archive-date=2021-08-13 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210813011121/https://mn.gov/admin/assets/overview-of-fine-art-in-capitol-MNHS_tcm36-74302.pdf}}</ref> One critic encouraged Minnesotans to, "Take a sledge hammer and smash them Roman bronchos and that chariot! Clean 'em out and put a grand heroic statue of Alexander Ramsey in their stead!"<ref>{{Cite book |last=Roethke |first=Leigh |title=Minnesota's Capitol: A Centennial Story |publisher=Afton Historical Society Press |year=2005 |isbn=1-890434-67-1 |pages=58}}</ref>

==Symbolism==
The Progress of the State was devised as an allegorical statuary where a prosperous Minnesota proceeds onward by means of the power of nature (horses) and civilization (the women).<ref>{{Cite book |last=Thompson |first=Neil B. |title=Minnesota's State Capitol: The Art and Politics of a Public Building |publisher=Minnesota Historical Society Press |year=2005 |isbn=0-87351-085-2 |pages=75}}</ref> The four horses in the Minnesota quadriga represent the [[classical element]]s of [[earth (classical element)|earth]], [[air (classical element)|air]], [[fire (classical element)|fire]], and [[water (classical element)|water]]. Independently, the women represent [[Industrial sector|industry]] and [[agriculture]]. Collectively, they represent [[civilization]]. In addition to personifying the state of Minnesota, the male charioteer holding a [[cornucopia]] (horn of plenty), a symbol of abundance and nourishment, represents prosperity.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-03-15 |title=Why the Quadriga sculpture at the state Capitol has pineapple wheels, and other fun facts |url=https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2016/03/why-quadriga-sculpture-state-capitol-has-pineapple-wheels-and-other-fun-facts/ |access-date=2021-03-22 |website=MinnPost |language=en-US |archive-date=2020-11-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108161627/https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2016/03/why-quadriga-sculpture-state-capitol-has-pineapple-wheels-and-other-fun-facts/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

French's letter on adapting his earlier quadriga from the World's Columbian Exposition to Minnesota quadriga demonstrates the casualness with which allegorical meaning could be ascribed to a statue, and vice versa.

<blockquote>"You will be glad to know that I have begun a model for the central figure (in the chariot) of the Quadriga. The other figures are already designed, as are the horses, since we are to follow the Quadriga which presided over the Columbian Arch at Chicago... The central figure, representing Columbus would, of course, not be appropriate for the State Capitol of Minnesota, so that a new design for this figure is necessary.

As the two figures leading the horses are female figures, I think the figure in the chariot should be a male figure," he wrote. "I think it should represent "Minnesota', if you think that a male figure can personify a state."'' <ref name="O'Sullivan">{{Cite book |last=O'Sullivan |first=Thomas |title=North Star Statehouse: An Armchair Guide to the Minnesota State Capitol |publisher=Pogo Press |year=1994 |isbn=1-880654-07-5 |pages=58–59}}</ref></blockquote>

==Restorations==
Re-gilding the sculpture in 23 karat gold leaf is necessary approximately every 20 years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2017-2018 Legislative Manual (Blue Book) |url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/about-minnesota/get-a-blue-book/2017-2018-legislative-manual-blue-book/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=www.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref> Every year, the condition of the statuary is reviewed with conservators making slight repairs and touching up the gold leaf as necessary. The sculpture group underwent re-gilding in 1949 and again in 1979.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cameron |first=Linda A. |date=March 2016 |title=Why the Quadriga sculpture at the state Capitol has pineapple wheels, and other fun facts |url=https://www.minnpost.com/mnopedia/2016/03/why-quadriga-sculpture-state-capitol-has-pineapple-wheels-and-other-fun-facts/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=MinnPost }}</ref> In 1994 the group was taken down from the capitol roof for a year-long restoration procedure. The quadriga was reinstalled in 1995 and the figures have had several minor ''[[in situ]]'' reapplications of gold leaf since. During a comprehensive restoration of the State Capitol building the figure of the charioteer was removed and lowered to the ground in 2014 to allow repairs to [[corrosion]] of the top surface of the chariot and was reinstalled in 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Salisbury |first=Bill |date=September 23, 2014 |title=State Capitol temporarily loses charioteer of the golden Quadriga |url=https://www.twincities.com/2014/09/23/state-capitol-temporarily-loses-charioteer-of-the-golden-quadriga/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200721092115/https://www.twincities.com/2014/09/23/state-capitol-temporarily-loses-charioteer-of-the-golden-quadriga/ |archive-date=2020-07-21 |access-date=2021-01-29 |website=Pioneer Press }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Cameron |first=Linda |date=March 3, 2019 |title=Quadriga: "The Progress of the State" |url=https://www.mnopedia.org/thing/quadriga-progress-state |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210204155242/https://www.mnopedia.org/thing/quadriga-progress-state |archive-date=2021-02-04 |access-date=2021-01-29 |website=MNOpedia }}</ref><ref name="La Crosse">{{Cite web |url=http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/minnesota-state-capitol-celebrates-grand-opening-after-restoration/article_608979f0-651d-572f-a64e-ca977c73216c.html |title=Minnesota state capitol celebrates grand opening after restoration |last=Fitzgerald |first=Kilat |date=August 14, 2017 |website=La Crosse Tribune |language=en-US |access-date=2017-09-08 |archive-date=2017-09-08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170908111031/http://lacrossetribune.com/news/local/minnesota-state-capitol-celebrates-grand-opening-after-restoration/article_608979f0-651d-572f-a64e-ca977c73216c.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="West Words">{{Cite web |url=http://dairylandpeach.com/2017/08/19/notes-from-a-visit-to-our-restored-state-capitol/ |title=Notes from a visit to our restored State Capitol |last=West |first=Tom |date=August 19, 2017 |website=dairylandpeach.com |language=en-US |access-date=2017-09-08 |archive-date=2017-08-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170819181704/http://dairylandpeach.com/2017/08/19/notes-from-a-visit-to-our-restored-state-capitol/ |url-status=live }}</ref> On May 7, 2016, the Quadriga was again removed from the roof in order to allow for roofing repairs below. During that time the statuary was relocated to nearby warehouse where it was re-gilded. On November 12, 2016 the Quadriga was re-installed on the Minnesota State Capitol roof.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Minnesota Secretary Of State - 2017-2018 Legislative Manual (Blue Book) |url=https://www.sos.state.mn.us/about-minnesota/get-a-blue-book/2017-2018-legislative-manual-blue-book/ |access-date=2022-03-23 |website=www.sos.state.mn.us}}</ref>

<gallery mode="packed-hover" caption="Restoration">
Image:Removal of male charioteer from Quadriga for restoration-21 - 50861163941.jpg|Removal of charioteer
Image:Removal of male charioteer from Quadriga for restoration-13.jpg|Removal of charioteer
Image:Return of the Quadriga after restoration-08 - 50861249296.jpg|Statue being reinstalled
Image:Return of the Quadriga after restoration-02 - 50861344862.jpg|Being reinstalled 
</gallery>
<gallery mode="packed-hover" caption="Gallery">
Image:Closeuphorses.jpg|A closeup of the horses
Image:KT capitol 97 (30956370938).jpg|Looking East
Image:Quadriga - The Progress of the State-looking west.jpg|Looking West
File:Minnesota State Capitol golden quadriga.JPG|
File:The Quadriga and the Six Virtues.jpg|The Quadriga and the Six Virtues
File:Columbian Arch and Columbus Quadriga-Front.jpg|World's Columbian Exposition - Columbian Arch, and Columbus Quadriga
</gallery>
{{clear}}

==See also==
*[[Public sculptures by Daniel Chester French]]
*[[Minnesota State Capitol artwork]]
*[[List of artwork at the Minnesota State Capitol]]

==References==
<references />
{{commons category|Quadriga - The Progress of the State}}

==External links==
*[http://www.mnhs.org/places/sites/msc/quadrelatedlinks.html Minnesota State Capitol: Quadriga.] [[Minnesota Historical Society]].

{{Daniel Chester French}}
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[[Category:Minnesota State Capitol]]
[[Category:Outdoor sculptures in Minnesota]]
[[Category:1906 sculptures]]
[[Category:Horses in art]]
[[Category:Copper sculptures in the United States]]
[[Category:Gold sculptures in the United States]]
[[Category:1906 establishments in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Steel sculptures in Minnesota]]
[[Category:Sculptures by Daniel Chester French]]
[[Category:Architectural sculpture]]
[[Category:Sculptures by Edward Clark Potter]]