The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-01-16
TIC RATIONAL CAPITOL.
The FEes0Oes ia the ROsunda- The work
that signor BramIdI Is Doing.

Warrington Cor. New York Evening Post
just at present Signor Brumidi is
sketch:ng what will be the sixth OF the
contemplated series, composition treat
ing the Landing Of the Pilgrims" The
i've already completed represent the
Landing Of Columbus" "Cortez En-
tering the Temples OF Mexico, "2"Piz-
zsro Marching to Peru" THE Burial Of
De5eto," and "Pocshontas Swing the
Life of Captain Smith. There remsius
in addition to the Landing Of the Pill
crims," "Psnn Treating with the indi-
ans," "The Colonization of Jamestown"
fJglethorps and Muscogee Chief"
Battle Of Lexington" Declaration Of
Independence" Surrender OF Cornwall
lis, Decatur at TFipoli," Death of
Tecumssh," "SeotFs- Entry into the
| City Of Mexico" and "The Discovery
Of Gold IN California" These designs
have all been drawn in 8 crude form,
making long roll suggesting an eastern
manuscript. Thence they are transferred
to large sheets, where the theme is elab-
GRATED suficientIg to be again copied on
| sheets Of the full proportions of the res
GOES themselves. These are taken to
the rotunda and placed over the space
designed to be next attacked,
and perforated With lines of dots along
which charcoal is rubbed 50 as to leave
impressions OF the plaster beneath. The
drawing is than removed, and the artist,
having suitably prefased the mortar,
proceeds TO copy the design, section by
section, till the whole IS transferred to
the wall. It will BE- seen that several
reproductions of the original sketch are.
required snd the nature Of the frescO
press Itself, not to spask Of the incidental
difficulties Of the position, weather, eta,
makes she advance slow. BrUmidi has
been occupied nearly two years in COM
pleting the first quadrant, and does not
anticipate finishing the entire seriss in
less than four years or more. Whatever
diversity of opinion may prevail as to
the merits of the previous work done by
this artist, there Is scarcely room for
difference in regard to the excellence of
| these freseoes in black and white. The
, designs Sre noble and graceful, and the
execution is wonderful The frescoes
are per ect to the degree of optical de-
fusion. It is difficult to persuade a
!. stranger that the work is not in relief,
and among the amusing incidents of
daily life at the Capitol is the logged
!. unbelief OF visitors in the tales of guides
and watehmen in explanation of the
e paintings. 1t is q comic sight to see one
: of these guides blandly explaining the
e frescoes, while the elderly ladies or the
= bridal pair in tow stand regarding him
l. with suspicious glances which say very
+ plainly, "NO tricks on travellers, if you
g please" And even one more accus-
e toned to the figures shrinks and instinct
y lively lodges as be sees above him Col
l. umbus walking the plank in an absent
r minded way, as if about to step down
10 and out some ninety feet upon the place
8, beneath. Hokusai, the DOre of Japan,
81 depicts in one of his caricatures an artist
a. at his bench who has drawn such a
r perfect horse that the beast is quietly
re ambling out of the door. Let US hope
st Brumidi will stop this side of SO hOmi-
lie cidal an excellence as that. In this con-
es nection few words concerning the life
m and labors of the artist may be found
80 interesting. Constantine Brumidi was
= born at Rome in 1905, and is now, there
n fore, seventy-three years of age. He
Of received a thorough professional educs-
x ton, his instructors being Camucini IN
10 painting and ThOrwaldsen in sculpture.
a. His talents received early recognition,
1t the young artist being employed for
IS eleven years in the decoration of the
"a villa and palaces of Prince TOrlonia in
- Rome. Under Pope Gregory XVI. he
4. was commissioned, with three other
r painters of distinction, to restore the
N upper story of the loqgia of Raphael in
~ ~ the Vatican. In 1S48 he painted the
portrait of the late Pope Plus XII, and
subsequently a resurrection of Lazarus,
which was purchased by the Princess
to Albertina, of Prussia. Sinking the artist
ls in the patriot, however, he became in
n volved iii the revolutionary troubles Of
( 1849, and in consequence was obliged to
Re fee. He came to Washington in 1853
e and applied for naturalization papers,
= but left soon after for the City Of Mexico,
: where he painted in the cathedral. Re
u turning, be passed five years in freseO
g Painting in the cathedral in Phiiadel-
: phia and in st. Stephens Churchin New
4 York. In 1866 he began the work Of de-
2, c0rating the Capitol by fresco in the
n House Committee room on Agriculture,
2 and since that time has been constantly
Il EMPLOYED in various lab0r5 and places;
q non designing the bronze ratings Of the
e Senate and House private staircasss in
a the basement, now suspended st q dizzy
y height decorating the canopy Of the TO-
It tuuda. Sign0r BrJmidi is not only an
r accomplished artist, but Of g siDguIarly
d sweet and attractive disposition and
charming manners. am sure / express
the unive sal sentiment when az this sea-
son If kindly wishes I remind him Of the