A century ago, craftsmen at the Arkansas State Capitol painstakingly carved detailed leaf and flower motifs in the plaster of the interior dome. Dipping fine brushes into more than a dozen paint shades, they highlighted the carving and trim throughout the dome.
Over the next century, the paint faded and was replaced with less attention. And the beauty of the space was forgotten. Restoration this year has reversed that process, and the dome again showcases the original workmanship.
"It has been a lengthy project," Secretary Martin said. "But the dome looks beautiful, and I think all Arkansans will be pleased with the results."
Baldwin & Shell Construction Company began work in late July. For five weeks, in overnight shifts, crews installed scaffolding to reach the top of the inner dome. From the Capitol's second floor, the scaffold rose 112 feet, with two levels of plywood "dance floors." At 25 feet above the Rotunda floor, the first dance floor served as a staging area. The upper platform was 87 feet higher. From there, workers used sections of rolling scaffolding, ranging up to 25 feet in height, to reach into the dome.
Evergreene Architectural Arts of Oak Park, Illinois, sampled paint from each area of the dome - between every rib and every line, down to the bottom layer of paint. These were analyzed and colors recreated to match the dome's 1914 appearance.
Workers peeled, repaired and primed the plaster. The actual painting took roughly 45 days using 16 different shades for the relief work on the trim, background planes, egg-and-dart trim and carved leaves and flowers. Evergreene's painters added decorative glazing to emphasize details, making them more visible. Faux marbling of plaster mimics the marble used elsewhere in the Capitol.
Restoration and scaffolding removal, which was completed in mid-November, was performed at night to avoid disrupting the Capitol's daily business. The result is a stunning panorama of art that visitors can easily see and admire.
"I'm very pleased with the work," Secretary Martin said. "Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the workers this summer, visitors to the Capitol can more easily see the fine craftsmanship original to the building."
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