Evening star., 1919-04-13
Brum;;dl;' $ Great W. W.ork at
the Cab;to1 - Italian
Meth Cd Of Fresco.
The "M;che1a nge1o
of the Ca6;to1." His
Allowance and the Un.
finished Dome PANT
ing Why Brum;d;' $
Pictures Retain Their
Popularity.

solemn promise to leave Italy for
ever that he was released from the
dungeon. This was done through
the influence Of the Pope.
1t was in 1s49. the year gold was
discovered in California that Bru-
midi landed upon the shores of the
United States. He had reached the
age of forty-four. He was accorded
a warm reception by the people Of
New York. While living there, he
painted ''The Crucifxion" for st.
Stephens Church. r
After season in New York he was
seized with an attack Of wanderlust,
which led him to Mexico City. There
he painted wonderful picture.
"Holy Trinity" for the great cathe-
dral Of that city His coming to
Washington in 1854 proved to be the
big event of his life. He was so
deeply enraptured with the Capitol
and its possibilities of decorative
work that he never thereafter left
the city. remaining until his death,
which occurred thirty-six years later
His decision to become q citizen OF
the United States as quickly as the
law would permit him, to do SO will
be especially appreciated by Amsri.
cans Of today.
His first work was the decoration
of the agriculture committee room
(now occupied by the Senate commit
tee on post offices and post roads).
the central figure being "Cincinnatus
at the Plow." This proved so salts
factory that he was eagerly sought
by those in charge of the Capitol to
\deCorate the Presidents room and tho
state reception room. This was fol-
lowed by the ornamentation Of the
corridors Of the main floor of the
Senate wing in arabesque, similar to
the Vatican loggie. This represents
birds. animals. fruits and flowers.
The idea of painting such things on
walls was decidedly new and aroused
considerable opposition on the part
Of the artists of that period. But
Brumidi. philosopher that he was.
merely smiled indulgently and went
ahead, paying not the least bit of at
tention to the flood Of criticism that
was hurled at him. In these days of
= high wages 1t will sound pathetic
when the statement is made that for
the salary of $S per day. This was
subsequently raised to $40 through
the influence Of Jefferson Davis. who
b later became president of the South.
ern Confederacy Mr. Davis. 1t is
said. was a great admirer Of Brumidi
and did much to assist him in the
work at the Capitol.
The question Is often asked why
Brumidfs pictures continue to be so
popular after all these years. Their
continued popularity Is doubtless due
to the fact that they are perfectly un-
derstandabls to the masses. His pic
lures need no interpre tation or fanci-
full or intricate explanations. which is
more than can be said OF some Of the
present day allegorical puzzles found
in public buildings.
Experts declare the outstanding &
feature Of Brumidi's frescoing to he
the fact that 1t will retain its orig
inal coloring for centuries, being
practically indestructible.
4
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1t is generally conceded that no
other nationality has ever been able
to equal the Italians in frescoing.
Brumidi used earth paints that were
ground or mixed In water. They were
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