Skip to main content

Primary sourceArtifact1785

Virginia State Capitol

Thomas Jefferson and Charles-Louis Clérisseau · 1785

The Virginia state capitol building, designed in part by Jefferson, who modeled it on an ancient Roman temple in France.

Jefferson designed this building, introducing Roman temple architecture to American civic design.

Ask Thomas Jefferson about this sourceView the original(opens in new tab)
Front view of the white neoclassical Virginia State Capitol under a blue sky. A pedimented portico with tall columns rises above a grey stone staircase flanked by red flowers and tall street lamps. Wings extend to either side.
Virginia State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson and Charles-Louis Clérisseau, 1785-1788. Richmond, Virginia.

About this source

What it is

The Virginia State Capitol in Richmond is the seat of Virginia's state government. Thomas Jefferson, working with French architect Charles-Louis Clérisseau, designed the building while in France. Construction began in 1785 and finished in 1788.

Why it matters

Jefferson modeled the Capitol on the Maison Carrée, an ancient Roman temple in Nîmes, bringing classical architecture into American public buildings. The building later served as the capitol of the Confederacy during the Civil War, showing how the same structure took on very different meanings over time.

Look closer

  • Why might Jefferson have chosen an ancient Roman temple as the model for a new American government building?
  • What does the choice of classical style suggest about how the new nation wanted to be seen?
  • How might the building's later use during the Civil War change how we understand its meaning?

This artifact is part of the curated material that grounds the AI version of Thomas Jefferson on Humy.ai — when students ask about related events, the AI can quote it and cite it.

More Thomas Jefferson sources

Meet the AI Thomas Jefferson →
Scan of the engrossed Declaration of Independence on aged parchment. Heading reads 'In Congress, July 4, 1776' with the title 'The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America' below. Dense handwritten text fills the page; signatures appear at the bottom.Document

Primary source

Declaration of Independence

Continental Congress (drafted by Thomas Jefferson) · 1776

Oval stipple engraving portrait of a man with white hair, dark coat and white cravat, titled 'Tho.s Jefferson, President of the United States of America', with 'European Magazine' above and publication line below.Painting

Primary source

Thomas Jefferson Stipple Engraving after Gilbert Stuart

After Gilbert Stuart · 1802

Document

Primary source

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

Thomas Jefferson · written 1777, enacted 16 January 1786

Engraved print of a man with white powdered hair in an oval frame, wearing a dark coat and cravat, set against horizontal line hatching. Below: 'Thomas Jefferson, President of the United States of America', number 239, and 'J. Kay 1801' signature.Painting

Primary source

Thomas Jefferson Etching by John Kay, 1807

Gilbert Stuart · 1807

Engraved portrait print of Thomas Jefferson, a man with curly white hair in a dark coat, high white collar and lace jabot, shown on a page of a bound album. Caption below reads JEFFERSON, Dédié au Général Lafayette.Painting

Secondary source

Porträt Thomas Jefferson

Auguste Gaspard Louis Boucher Desnoyers

Ready when you are

Start chatting with Thomas Jefferson now.

20 messages free · No credit card · Available in 50+ languages.

Trial Humy for freeGet a quote for institutions