President Donald Trump recently shared images depicting the restoration of The Arts of War and The Arts of Peace statues in Washington D.C. He posted four pictures of one newly regilded statue surrounded by scaffolding and workers. Trump remarked on Truth Social, ‘Taking down the scaffolding around the regilded Arts of War sculptures!’
Since his return to office in January 2025, Trump has initiated several ambitious construction projects in the capital. These include significant renovations on the White House, the construction of a 250-foot-tall triumphal arch along the Potomac River, refurbishing a historic public golf course in Washington D.C., and plans for a statue garden honoring notable figures in American history.
The National Park Service approved a contract valued at $5.1 million in mid-April for a Maryland-based gilding studio. The contract outlines the restoration of the four bronze horse statues, known as the Arts of War and Arts of Peace, as stated in federal records. Restoration efforts began in April and are scheduled to conclude in September.
The Arts of War statues were crafted by American sculptor Leo Friedlander. This Art Deco ensemble includes two statues titled Valor and Sacrifice, which are positioned at the entrance of the Arlington Memorial Bridge. Meanwhile, the Arts of Peace were sculpted by James Earle Fraser, another American artist. These Neoclassical statues, Music and Harvest and Aspiration and Literature, are located at the entrance of the Rock Creek and Potomac Parkway.
This is a developing story, and further updates will be provided as new information becomes available.
Leave a Reply