These are photographs, in no specific order, of the plaster frieze encircling the dome above the corbel statues.  The frieze, which is considered by many to be some of the best artwork in the capitol, is painted to resemble bronze.  There is some doubt as to the chronological order of the panels and the events depicted in the scenes.  The description below is from the 1900 edition of the Illinois Blue Book.

"At the base of the inner dome, is a series of allegorical and historical pictures, in bas relief, of conceded artistic merit.  Among these are the discussion of the stamp act, in the Virginia House of Burgesses, with Patrick Henry as the central figure, making his memorable address, and Washington and Richard Henry Lee among his attentive auditors; the evacuation of Yorktown by the British forces; Peter Cartwright, the pioneer preacher, conducting a religious service in a “settler’s” cabin; the surrender of Black Hawk at Prairie du Chien; and a joint debate between those giants of the political forum, Abraham Lincoln and Steven A. Douglas, in their great campaign of 1858.  In these historical representatives all of the figures are supposed to be portraits of historical characters.  Many of them are easily recognized, but others it seems impossible to identify, as the gifted artist, T. Nicolai, who designed and executed the work, dying before it was wholly completed, left no key to the different groups so graphically represented."