Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-30

tory apparently necessary for the finishing
touches in such a great Undertaking In
order to appreciate the difficulties of the
situation a full list of subjects utilized up to
the abandonment Of the work should be
given. Following the panel of Columbus
landing Oh American soil comes the de-
piction Of De Soto in the Temple of the
Sun, IMPLYING the aboriginal civilizat ton
in America at the time.
Next Is the discovery of the Mississippi,
followed by the famous hut none too aII-
thentiC episode of PoclhOntas and Capt
John Smith. Then tn" colonial period
proper is entered. being inaugurated by a
depictiu" of the settlement of New Eng
land Next is the signing Ct PeTn's treaty
with the Indians. after which the familiar
scene Of the signing of the Declaration Of
Independence is given Following that is
a representation IT the battle OF Lexing-
ten, the urSt conflict of he revolutionary
war. The death of Tecun-seh is next given
TO tyIiiy the final fail Of the Indian race
before the white men, ard the territorial
expansion Of the United States is COM
u.emorated by the surrender of the City
Of Mexico and the entry of Gen. Scott into
that ancient capital OF q more pacific
type, and leading up to the days of great
prosperity, the discovery Of gold in Cali
fornia in 1919 is shown. and here ends the
historic frieze as painted up to date.
BrumidTs Idea.
The work was begun in 1873 by the italian
artist. Constantine Brumidi, who labored
the contract was turned over to F'ilippo
Costaggini, a painter of the same school
and a master in fresCo work Brumidrs
sketches had never included the last two
panels of the dozen necessary to complete
the circuit. He had worked from time to
time under the direction Of the library
committee and the architect Of the Capitol
and IL underS TODD that before the
last panel of the series just mentioned was
reached some provision would be made for
the completion of the circle. Brumidi I'M
doubtedly had in mind for one of the panels
seine episode OF the civil war, but there
has always been hesitation on the part
of Congress about ordering the painting OF
such a PANEL. which would tend to increase
sectional feeling by concentrating what
many public men of today regard as the
most unfortunate episodes in the history
of the country.
When Brumdi died. he had completed the
PENIS treaty panel. and Costaggini painted
that representing the signing of the Decia-
ration, and all following. He has now been
practically selected to complete the work.
for after years of deliberation. subjects
have been all but chosen for the last two
panels, and It is expected that within a
twelve.nCnth the great historic frieze will
have been entirely finished, and the un-
slightly scaffolding removed from the ro-
tunda.
The first of the two panels to be painted,
that adjoining the pictorial story of the
discovery of gold will represent the driy-
ing of the last spike on the Union and Gen.
trail Pacific railroads on the 10th of May
1863, leaving n period of twenty years be-
tween the events of the two panels The
second of the panels will portray the OPEN
Ing OF the worlds fair and Columbian cx-
position at Chicago. May 1. 1895. 1t is
thought that the subject of the last panel
though presenting an embarrassment In
the necessity for the portrayal OF living
persons. is especially appropriate as the
finishing touch IN the frieze. inasmuch as it
Immediately adjoins that which describes
the discovery of America by Columbus
thus completing the four hun lred wears of
the Columbian era, as it has often been
called Especial aptuesS is claimed in the
fact that IN the last panel the Duke Of
herasua Will be shown, he being the last
living lineal descendant of Christonner g
lumbus
Driving of the Last Spike.
The Star presents today reproductions of
the rough sketches submitted by Mr.. Cos