New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1858-05-31
THE DECORATIONS OF THE CAPITOL.

THE DECORATIONS OF THE CAPITOL.
To The Edfo, Of The " y TribuHc
SIR:-I have lately been at Washington and derived
much pleasure from visiting the national capha and is
splendd buildings and works OF art. admired them,
and was much pleased with the rescoes and decorations
of my tellow-ciiizen Signor Costsntino Brumd. bu'
on my return TO New-York my attention wac directed
70 a correspondence Of TIE TRIBUNE May Ia and 70
other attacks made against that artist and his works al
the Capitol knew him in Rome, where he was much
esteemed and has left excellent specimens Of his artistic
ski can hardly believe that ten years OF exile could
have so entirely destroyed his capacity or impaired
nv Judgment. Had the attack been confined TO the
ground that artists or workmen Of foreign birth, VINO
satisfied with a small compensation, should be eI-
Guided from the Capitol in order 10 have the WORK
done exclusively by natives well paid, would nave
nothing 10 say, for keep of entirely from your aa
mpistratve questions and politics. But on the ground
Of art and taste Roman might be allowed to express
opinion quite different from that Of your own cor
respondent and his friends. Fresco painting represents
in art what improvisation Is poetry. The artist must
execute his work upon fresh wall, tracing the out
lines by a steel point, and using mineral colors
which ale instantly absorbed, and do not show
their efec. until the wal dries. The artist there
fore must work with great rapidly, and mas no
opportunity for corrections. 1t does not require d
greater capscty than the ordinary painting WITH GU or
water colors dry wall, but the artist mlst have
peculiar disposition, and this the Itslsrs possess
in a greater degree than others. good French
painter generally does not s'tempt 10 make hescoes
Mediocre artists often use water coors prepared WIN
glue on dry well, ike whtewashng, style called
" dstemper, quite easy, bu. OF short durson s,d
bad effect. Michael Angelo rad never p;acteed fresco
painting when Bramsnte procured him tie commission
10 paint the ceiisg of the Sistne Cbap-l WITH view
70 ruin his reputation. Michael Angelo called ;tom
Florence lis former school mate Gfsrscci, and otaer
fresco pairters, 20 tesch him the ar. lie was mlch
perpexed at The beginning, but af-rwsrd decs-ed I
the best style Of painting. believe tbs; yoIr oe.'
painters, by eXertng themselves ard gaining expert
erce might hsye succeeded in dong tle 10 Z A. +,
couphsted by Brumid. Bat e. would have .eg ned
a org tine anc sr epo-ToUs eIpeu 1tuTe. ne
piece q velvet night 10 manufactured IL y ~ TX
s. well Gsuos, but !: you'd re9are 81 eE-tt't -
G,rs1y patriotism 10 buy :, a. fly doi.rs y,'i.
Wne n..ier az. &c imported from Gen csh o. al
8; I'VE dollars lon omL.s fer, omn.s r. g ARC
yo1r manufacturers Wisely direct tier trerg5 sh-
skl-. @ 0taeT Oh =cts in wcicl they excel.
isl'ua. arc historical gE,ery, 5 y,ar oSl g.,
-e-ocrder' sugcss-s sAC1lt q 80 oul.c' 20 = :.
-m5uen O, your sTis;s, sua Zero probably ny !
ss,I mact gery-' v.sns.s G,s,. . 10 DEGREE 81
celetrare oome..i f..t. II ..)rc.l 80 .no
ssNe y {! taste ssoafc q SSVytso ~ "a, e.st