Robert Aitken

Robert Ingersoll Aitken created the western pediment, including the inscription “Equal Justice Under Law,” at the courthouse of the Supreme Court of the United States in Washington. He first studied at the University of California and the Mark Hopkins Art Institute in San Francisco, where he was professor of sculpture from 1901.

Aitken lived in Paris 1904-07, and then returned to New York where he worked as an instructor at the Art Students League. During this time, he received several prestigious awards. Aitken became a noted sculptor who did numerous portraits, full size and bust, of well-known figures influenced by the High Renaissance and Rodin. His work also includes several monuments in San Francisco. His Tired Mercury was created in 1907 during his time in Paris. The bronze figure has a size of 77 cm.