The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-05-20
,t.t.smen Of the times Of Monroe. John

statesmen OF the times Of Monroe John
Randolph, of Roanoke dubbed the pr.
trait tho shin Picture. for the reason
that the shins OF our colonial fathers were
all arranged In tho same manner. and his
title stuck to 1t. until the artist painted
In tables in front Of some Of the fathers.
In order to cover those shins and that is
the reason those tables stand there today.
Pocahontas there has the face Of
noted belle Of Philadelphia. and her uncle,
who with revengeful look watches the
scene. is supposed to have the face OF an
enemy OF the artist. This picture was
ordered when jackson was president, and
it brought the Virginia artist $4,000.
And so might go on with these other
pictures In the rotunda, and could tell
n story or two about that grand fresco
away up there on the ceiling.
IL was made. you know. by Brunidi,
and it cost $4,000 Brumidi was an
Italian. who was rather miscellaneous, it
is said. in his attentions to women, and
he painted in this picture the portraits of
some of his friends. who lived, as they
say here ION the other side Of the
avenue. and who were not Sunday school
teachers He was not n friend of the
south. and took for the faces of the fleeing
male figures the leading southern lead
ers. and these are here being driven by
Dscord and Anger and Revenge with an
incendiary torch
This is an immense painting. and it is
siXtyfve feet from one side Of the
fresco to the other, and the whole would
cover good sized city lot Of 1900
square feet. This dome has some Of
it's paintings still unfinished, and the
frieze which runs round its walls just op
posite me as write. is not yet completed
Brumidi made the first eight pictures. and
he was succeeded by Costigani who is
working on the thirteenth scene. II is
thought that perhaps the Emancipation
Proclamation will toe one of the scenes re-
naming, and this frieze. though beauti-
full, is rather expensive. II is 800 feet in
circumference and ten feet high. and the
painting upon it has been going on for
years. -
This dome is great place for lovers,
and its Photographic walls have recorded
the smacks of the kisses Of thousands of
grooms and brides The Whispering gal
lery has registered many curious story
and sweet nothings" have crept round
the walls from one side of the dome 10 the
other. Not long ago young groom
whose bride was somewhat passee was
here and the two were testing the Wits
pering gallery. In this one stands in the
gallery at one side Of the dome and the
thcr remains at the opposite side. II is
ninety six feet between them. yet the
acoustics are such that whisper made by
one can be distinctly heard by the other.
We'll. this day when the young groom,
May. was testing tho wall with bis bride.
whom we will call January a wicked page
boy got in front Of the groom, and wills
percd: We'll, Old girl you're no spring
chicken. are you? You really begin to
look witheredl" These words were 80 low
that the groom could not hear them, but
the brides face got as red as lobster
and her dull eyes snapped fire. She made
a dash for the groom, and the boy escaped
in tho melee.
There is an old Waterman who presides
over the top of the dome. He has long
beard which is as white as snow, and he
mouths his words like the Grave Digger in
Hamlet" He delights in horrifying the
visitors. and he tells timid girls how
man once committed suicide by humping