Gilded Horse Sculptures Have Georgetown Link
By • August 6, 2026 2 891
The gold leafing of Washington, D.C., continues as its latest shining iterations attest: the two freshly gilded equestrian statues near the Lincoln Memorial. The 19-foot-high bronze sculptures have been coated in 23.75 gold leaf by the Gilders’ Studio, Inc., the same local company that restored the iconic dome of the PNC Bank at Wisconsin Avenue and M Street in Georgetown two years ago.
To say the gilding work has received mixed reviews is an understatement. One passer-by said the sculptures reminded her of the “Star Wars” droid R2-D2. One media headline basically asked, “Gaudy or Gorgeous?”
The statues shine as an example of the Trumpificaton of the nation’s capital — what with a massive arch proposed on the Virginia side of Memorial Bridge photobombing everywhere or the vibrations of an upcoming Grand Prix race along the National Mall, possibly damaging delicate pieces in nearby museums.
At a cost of more than $5 million, the regilding of the two pairs of equestrian statues — one named “The Arts of War” and the other “The Arts of Peace” — are a restoration project under President Donald Trump’s “Make D.C. Safe and Beautiful Again” initiative to mark America’s 250th birthday.
Work on the “War” pair is complete and sits at the entrance to Memorial Bridge. The “Peace” pair is nearby at the entrance to Potomac and Rock Creek Parkway; restoration work on it will not be completed until September. All four statues were a thank-you gift from Italy in 1951, following its rebuilding after World War II.
So, what do our readers think of these regilded sculptures? Please note your opinion in the comment section below.
Restored by the Gilders’ Studio in 2024, the PNC Bank dome at Georgetown’s famous intersection of M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Photo by Bill Starrels.
Close up of freshly gilded equestrian statues near the Lincoln Memorial. Photo by Susan Bernhardt.
Freshly gilded equestrian statues on Memorial Bridge. Photo by Susan Bernhardt.
These manage to be both hideous and distracting to drivers
Awful ..it had Age History and Patina… Very sad !