Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1921-03-04

been very farsighted as they work
ed with such indestructible founda-
tons for their records, which have
come down through the ages so
we'll preserved, and indeed paved
q way SO that later on In some later
stage, man would broaden the art
into many branches; one which de-
veloped later was painting when,
instead of cutting the stones. the
designs were added in many brill
liant colors by the artists brush,
and man would, with many more
modern conveniences- ideas and
appliances, complete and leave
masterpieces of beauty that would
last forever. Perhaps art and tai
ent have been handed down from
generation to generation from
those dark ages until at the pres
ent day we have had genius so
talented in his works that he has
completed pieces pronounced per-
feet in beauty and exactness by
critics of the time. Constantine
Brumidi, born in a small town in
sunny Italy in the year 1905, of
Roman and Grecian descent, as a
small child showed great talents
which later on were to make him
among the most honored of men.
He worked, at very early age,
in decorating the royal palaces, so
perfect were his small figures and
pictures. For three glorius years
he worked decorating the Vatican
under Gregory XVI, who took great
interest in the child sculptor-p paint
er. An injury suffered by one of
his relatives during the French oc-
cupation of that country, led Bru-
midi to seek a land of liberty He
arrived in New York. became nat
uralized and took up his work. his
first paintings in this country be-
ing wholly religious works of mar
yelous beauty the first. a fresco in
st. stephens church. He then
went to Mexico City. where he dec
GRATED the large cathedral.
Admires Our Capitol.
On his return trip ne visited oul
capitol at Washington, and on his
trip through the buildings he mar
yeled at the opportunities they of,
1 fered for decorating their vast wal
and ceilings. He offered his serV'
ices, which were accepted; indeed
there began his real life work
which would stand long after the
name of Brumidi would be other
wise forgotten. While working
there he was commissioner captain
of cavalry, His first work was done
In the room of the house committee
of agriculture. At first his pay
was only IS a day. But Jefferson
Davis, then secretary of war,
amazed at his great ability. caused
the compensation to be $40 a day.
AS his work proceeded his ad-
mirers increased at the capitol I'M
til he was given further commits
sion and soon became a govern
ment painter. Practically all the
public rooms and rooms of business
in the capitol show where the hand
of Brumidi has made them more
beautiful, but Constantine Brumidi
did not work alone. he had q BODY
of near-artists under him VINO dld
the inferior touches and work, ont
il was the great Constantine Bru-
midi whose talented hand addeu
the last touches that made them
such masterpieces. His work al
washington was in keeping with
the tone of every room though ms
greatest works were the frescos OF
real events in American history, all
of whose characters can be quickly
recognized some have the approval
of the men themselves.
Death overlook the artist before
he had finished his great work on
the rotunda of the capitol And II
has never been touched since. Sc
superior was his work that nc
other hand has tried to finish what
the great Brumidi started.