The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1915-02-13
s. HE HAsKIN LETTER
Art in the National Capitol
b Frederic ]. Haslin.

ATt I'D the Ne
Since the outbreak Of the European
war. art lovers have turned their at.
tention TO the works. OF art In thi,
country: and among the many won
derful collections open to; them. one
which is receiving at this time some.
what tardy recognition is the galaxy
OF paintings and busts In the halls
of the national capitol.
Although this wonderful collection
cannot boast Of priceless foreign
masterpieces. It has many portraits
paintings and sculptures that are iof
great value from q Historical, as well
as from an artistic viewpoint.
Entering the rotunda. one comes
face to face with the four famous
TrumbelI. portraits, depictine The
signing OF the Declaration OF Inde-
pendence, the surrender of General
Burgoyne, the surrender Of OF Corn.
wallis, and Washington resiRning his
commission. Two Of these treasures
We're reproduced by Trumbell, from
sketches made by him on the scene OF
the events. They are the signing Of
the Declaration Of Independence, and
the surrender Of General Burgoyne.
The other two were executed by him
from descriptions Of eye-witnesses.
Congress paid but 81, 900 each for
these masterpieces, but today, ther
could not be purchased for, many
times that sum. In each picture. tlic
faces of several score Of weil-knoyn
historical characters are Reproduced
with exacting touch, and most Of
them are from life. 2
Ranged alongside the famous Trum-
bell paintings, are Others which,
thougn they. DO not possess the same
Intrinsic value as their companions,
are OF such wonderful historical i'm.
portance that they. too, are priceless.
The Embarkation Of the Pilgrims. =
by Robert w. Weir; Landing o;
Columbus, by John ivanderlyn:
Discovery OF the Mtssissippi,n BY
William Powell; and the Baptism 81
Pocahontas," by John @. Chapman. are
all wonderful works Of art and vet
yet Congress paid but S12, 900 for
each. =,
Above these Oil paintings, running
almost entirely around the circular ro-
tunda, is the historical frieze by Con-
stantine Brumidi, and TFilippe Costag-
gtnia. or all the artists, Brumidi un-
doubtedly did more toward making
the capitol beautiful than any other
He was native OF Rome, and while
practicing his profession there he was
commissioned by Plus TX to restore
the Loggia OF Raphael in the Vatican
He pursued this work for sometime
but was thrown into prison when al
captain Of the guards he refused Il
order his men to fire on the populact
OF Rome during q riot. For fourteen
months he lay In prison until releas
ed BY order of the Pope, when he i'm
medtately shook the dust Of Ital,
] from his feet, and came to this coun
I try. d
/ For the last thirty years Of his life
, he worked almost entirely for the gov
eminent, refusing all offers OF NOR,
remunerative employment, giving Al
his reason, that he was going .to dc
vote his life to the land Of freedom.
This resolution became part Of hin
and he labored up to within three day
OF his death in an effort to complete
the frieze. During his employment b,
the government he received an averag
Of $40 a day.
The frieze was then taken up b.
Filippe Costaggina, likewise nauv
of Rome: who also died before 1t coul,
be completed, Since then, this part o
a he II nln6 4
Guides, in an effort to weave myster,
into their story, tell the gullible tour
lists that the originator OF the friez,
became discouraged because he raj
out of ideas, and leaped to the floor
daghfng his brains out-but this i
mere fiction.
To Brumldi credit must be give,
for the wonderful canopy of the 70
tuhda, showing Washington seated ii
the center, with supernal beings at
tending him. On his right sits Gree
dom" and on his left Victory" 9th
er parts of the rotunda depict tn,
various phases Of American life.
The Moorish corridor, so designated
because Of the Moorish designs; tn,
b Pompeiian corridor; the small ant
long corridors leading to the com
mittee rooms, which are decorated
with birds and animals; the room o
the Committee on Appropriations
which is decorated with Egyptian
style: the patent corridor, and tn,
presidents room. all bear witness !,
the artist Brumidi's work.
It is around the. Marble Room o.
the Senate, however, that real mys
terry and romance may be woven. OF
one Of the marble columns of the cell
ing Is a natural portrait When on,
looks at IL closely he is astonished Il
discover that continuance of tn.
black vein in the stone forms an al
most perfect figure Of George Wash,
ington, standing with his hand on til,
hilt Of his sword. For years ate,
the capitol was built this strange de
sign remained unnoticed, and It wa.
not until within comparatively recen
years that II was discovered and point
ed out by the late Senator q. Vest
Of Missouri. Since then 1t has attract
ed much attention.
Although the nation is indeed fortu
/ nate IN hava aunhf a .oa11onfin,,s ,,,.ou.