Daily State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1861-1865, 1865-10-12
rreseslns tn. CANOPY Of the Dome
of the auffOf.
IFren the wsshlnston Chroalcie.

Fron the wsshIngton chrOaleie..
Probably very fev Of the thousands OF per l
sous Who have walked through the rotunda OF
the Capitol OF tae United ststes since the month
Of March last, and when the immense scafod- |
ing had been removed from the csLtre of that
spsciOUs and historic hall. are aware that imme-
distsly their heads, AT the fearful height Of
one hundred and sixIJ feet. supported By rude
and temporary. though very substantial platform,
81 ariiss has been closely engaged in frescoing
the canopy Of the dome from a design which be
furnished some three years since, and which vas
approved bs the Congressional COMMITTEES and
the late Secretary of the Interior. Hon Caleb
B Smith. SO closely has he pursued his work
that considerable portion Of il i finished. al
though the whole will not be completed, on ac-
count Of the appropriation for the dome having
been expended, until some time next spring.
When the platform shall have been removed,
the rude boards and heavy scantling taken
away, and the passer-by shall be allowed al un-
oestructsd vision OF the very eye OF the
dome We feel assured, from what we saw
Yesterday, although in unfinished con
ditiou, that the effect will be surprisingly
beautiful. and that the canopy Of the dome Of
the Capitol will be unanimously pronounced one
OF the most superb specimens OF ireseoing in the
United States. and proper adornmsnt TO what
Is acknowledged 20 be the creates; building in
the world Constantine Brumidi. the designer
and the artist who has been engaged for twenty
years in decorating the Capitol, and who has
recently painted the Cathedral Of 81 Peter aud
St Paul. in Logan square Philsdelphis. and
whose altar piece. representing the cruci6xion,
has been so much admired claims that he exc
cuted the kfst real irescO work in the United
States de has entered into his present task
With 4 spirit and determination TO make toe
canopy OF the dome everv way worthy OF his
own reputation aud the celebrated and highly
cherished building OF which il forms the erown-
ing piece. the design is appropriate and beau
tiful, aud when comp leted, il will command the
admiration OF the most critical
The painting covers space of six thousand
square feet. The canopy at its base is eighty
four feet IN diameter, anu two hundred and fifty
two feet IN circumference, and forms almost half
globe. Sixty three figures, which will appear
As LIES from toe floor OF the rotunda, are
contained In the picture. although many OF them.
10 order to produce this effect, are colossal In
their dimensions, and vary from twelve to seven
teen feet 10 hight The centre piece consists
first of q portrait of Washington in a sitting
posture To his right is seated tue Goddess OF
Liberty, and on the left a female figure repre-
sentiug Victory aud Fame procaiming freedom
In semi-circle il group OF females. represent
log the thirteen original sister colonies, bearing
aloit banner on which is Inscribed the words
r. Piurlbus JRunl. Surrounding this under the
circle, near the base of the design are six artistic
groups, representing War Agriculture Mocha
mics, Commerce the Navy aud Science Two
OF these groups only are now flushed War and
Science-although Agriculture. Mechanics and
Commerce are well advanced, and the Navy
Is rudely skelched on the fresh mortar. In
the shape Of the Goddess of Liberty.
stands erect, bearing in one hand a
shield ana in the other sword. At her side ID
the American eagle; beneath her feet are sta wart
men, some with the torch Of the inceadiarv in
| their bands, others crouched by the SIDE OF the
cannon She treads on an efmine bordefed rohe
and the whole is intended To be typical OF the
downfall OF tyranny. The next group is the
arts a1d sciences, presided over by tie Goddees
Minerva franklin aud Fulton prom.ne
figures in this group. Various emblems of our
advancement 10 the arts and sciences are seen in
this picture. Then we have the Navy-Father
Neptune rides Ia his caari0;, bearing in bis hand
his trident: Venus. the Goddess of Love is lust
emerging from the oriuy deep, with her accom-
panylng cupIds, and cable OF wire illustrates
our endeavors TO lay the Atlantic telegram
Next comes Commerce, with the ships in the
distance, csrgOes OF bales and boxes unloading
aud seated calmly in the midst of the busy scene
Is Morris. the great American fnancier in the
/
Vulcan stands Ut his forge preparing thunder
bolts; cannon, morter, ball and shell abound and
| IN the background we have the steam engine
| Agriculture forms the sixth and last group Ceres
reIgns here, attended by her hand msidens. Flora
and Pomona. Ceres rides triumphsntly. not on
chariot, but on reaping and moving ma
chine, with noble steeds attached, led by Young
America. Flora aud Pomona are laden with the
treasures of the earth This completes the series.
| rn n N fhraa n
them we said before, colossal in their dimen-
siOns. The faces OF these figures are very ex-
pressive, and the portraits OF Washington, Frank
lin and Fulton are admirable copies of what we
have been taught TO regard as faithful likenesses
of these great men The drapery of the female
figures are well executed. and when view ed from
the proper distance the picture cannot fail TO
give satisfaction. Fresco painting, in order to
be durable and to produce the proper effect, must
be done when the mortar is fresh and vet. In
many instances persons use oil in painting upon
walls what is popularity considered fresco work
Excavations in the ruins OF PomPei, however,
| frequently dlscloses on the walls work that has
been put there thousands of years ago as fresh as
beautiful aud as highly colored as the day upon
which it was completed The great secret of
this durability consists, as va learn, of using
nothing but mineral psints-nO oil is required
The dome of St Pau's Cathedral at Rome is
irescOeO. ne dome OF the Pantheon at Paris
is painted Ia oil On account of the necessity
OF rapidly dying il the mineral paints. the coat
ing OF mortar must be pu, on Immediately be
fore the paint is applied and colors thus put on
which appear sufficiently light or dark at the
time, have to be replenished on account Of their
absorption But after the colors are once fixed
they are supposed to be much more durable thar
those in which oil is used Mr.. Brumidi expects
to finish The picture about the middle of March
next, just one year from the commencement
When we remember that it is more than three
quarters done, and covers space OF ak thousand
square ieet. and that while be has two assistants
To prepare his colors and apply the mortar, be
alone paints the picture, can form some idea
of the energy he has exhibited in the prosecution
OF piece of work that will rebound to his credit
! a. artist and that will challenge the admira-
ton of all bebolders.