"U.S. Flag Behind Capitol" by Ron Sloan, Mixed Media Painting on Illustration Board, 1985

Presented is “U.S. Flag Behind Capitol,” an original mixed-media painting by American artist Ron Sloan.  The drawing shows an intricately detailed rendering of the front entrance to the United States Capitol building. Behind the Capitol is a large, waving American flag, set outside an orange-hued rounded rectangle. Sloan created this stunning artwork in February of 1985, for use on the Fleetwood First Day Cover of the 22 cent “Flag Over Capitol” stamp, issued in March of that same year. The painting depicts the iconic neoclassical building from the east orientation, with it’s dome towering overhead. Plans began in May of 1854 to build a new cast-iron dome for the United States Capitol. The then-architect of the Capitol Thomas Walter and his team were sold on the aesthetics of a new dome, as well as the utility of a fire-proof one. A year later, on March 3, 1855, President Franklin Pierce signed off on the appropriation of $100,000 to build the dome. Construction began in September of t