The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-10-07

IL.
was given charge of the Capitol decorations.
And there he wrought, at intervals, for 30
years, until it cost him his life
/, Brumidi had force of skilled Italians in
| his employ, several of whom went blind in
executing the delicate and intricate work in
the lower vaults and arches, which SO MANY
pass over lightly without seeming to see
their exquisite beauty, just as one will pass
through a garden of rare and lovely flowers
with scarcely thought Of the miracles of ma
! ture spread out before them
The canopy of the dome is Brumidi's mas
terpiece, upon which he worked for number
of years with his assistants, at cost to the
Government Of about $500 The theme
| IS the Apotheosis Of Washington, and in both
design and execution shows the mind and
hand of the master.
The central figure of the painting is Wash
| ington; on his right, Freedom, and on his left.
Victory. Around them are female figures
representing the original - States of the
! Union. The border of the canopy contains
six emblematic groups representing The Fall
of Tyranny, succeeded by agriculture, Me-
chanics, Maritime Trade, the Arts, and the
| Sciences.
Very few, comparatively, mount to the
gallery, from which point alone this exalted
work of art can be satisfactorily viewed in
detail. One can study it through glasses
from below, but the position is tiresome and
/ the point OF view in no way desirable.
Returning TO the floor OF the Totunda one
always wants 10 linger awhile before passing
through the open archways TO the left and
right, leading respectively TO the official
chambers of the Senate and House of Repre-
sentativcs. Opposite the central doorway is
another leading through 3 hallway to the
western portico, and over each doorway is q
marble panel carved in high relief
The panel over the main or east entrance
is Landing of the Pilgrims, carved by Enrice
Causlcci, OF Verona, pupil of Canova; the
figure to the north leading to the Senate
Chamber depicts William Penn Making
Treaty with the Delaware Indians. by Geve
lot, a French sculptor. Over the southern
door leading to the House is another group
by Causicci, representing Daniel Boone in
Conflict with the Inlans, the face being
copied from portrait from life by Harding.
The figure over the west door by Capellana.
an Italian sculptor, depicts Pocahontas Say
ing the Life of John Smith. All these sculp-
tors worked IN Washington about 1927, or 70
years ago.
The immense historical paintings on the
lower panels, each 1S by IL feet, were made
familiar to the people the country over
through the Columbian postage stamps issued
by the Government. These paintings are all
| by American artists and portray scenes in
early Colonial history and the Revolutionary
period, though they have been much crit
| cised by art connoisseurs, because of their
alleged lnieriority from the standpoint of
high art, TO the historical paintings in art
GALLERIES OF Paris Versailles, London, and
other famous art galleries Of the old world !;
yet because of their historic assO, ations
they have value to Americans far beyond
other paintings depending largely on tech
nique and color.
The early Colonial paintings are chiefly
imaginative, but the four Revolutionary
paintings by Col. John Trumbull, al officer
of Gen. Washington IS staff, combine portraits
drawn from life, wherever sittings could be
! obtained. In all other cases the faces are
from approved portraits.
Col Trumbull was equally exact in the
painting of uniforms; and camp equipage,
flags, guidons, trappings of the horses, and
Washington mounted on his splendid white
charger, in one of the scenes, are faithful to
the times.
Col Trumbull, who was a son of Gov.
Jonathan Trumbull, of Connecticut, pur-
eueu MS dit siuules aDIoad, after the Reyo-
luton, and ii was while there that he con-
ceived the stupendous design of decorating
the National Capitol, towards which he con-
tributed so large a share. He was very in
dnstrious painter and in the Trumbull GAL
lery of Yale College there is large collection
Of his masterpieces.
The early Colonial paintings are by John
Van Derlyn, Robert w. Weir, William
| II Powell of New York and John Gafsby
Chapman, Of Virginia. These artists all
studied abroad, and were among the first to
glorify subjects essentially American. Weir
was for AZ years Professor Of Drawing at the
United States Military Academy, Nest
Point. /sE
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