So Minnesota: Legendary battle at State Capitol involved iconic architect

So Minnesota: Legendary battle at State Capitol involved iconic architect Joe Mazan KSTP So Minnesota: Legendary battle at State Capitol involved iconic architect A long-running Capitol clash began with a fight over who would create a statue that still stands today. Since the State Capitol opened, lawmakers have had battles, and one early fight centered on architect Cass Gilbert and artist Catherine Backus. Brian Pease, historic site manager at the State Capitol, described it as one of the building’s first disagreements. How did it start? A few years after the Capitol opened, an art commission selected Backus to create a statue of Minnesota Civil War hero William Colvill. Pease said Backus was the first female artist represented in the State Capitol. Pease said Colvill was known for a key order during the Battle of Gettysburg. “At the battle of Gettysburg he was the one that gave the famous order to charge the Confederate forces on the second day of the battle of Cemetery Ridge,” Pease said. Gilbert, who designed the Capitol, wanted a sculptor of international fame to create the statue. But Pease said the commission stuck with its choice of a local artist. “The Commission wanted to stick to their guns,” said Pease, “We are going to go with our local artist, and they want Catherine Backus as the final decision for that statue.” What happened next? When Gilbert saw Backus’ finished work, he called it “A damn bad statue.” Even so, Backus’ statue remains in the same place more than a century later. “That’s a huge achievement when you’re going against other artists, mostly male artists, and also being able to be forever remembered for your work. The State Capitol, that’s the legacy you have within this building,” Pease said. The dispute over Colvill’s statue was one of the first known fights in the Capitol, and many more followed.