Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1927-07-31
EVENTS FOR FR|EzE
DIFFICULT TO PICK
Completion OF Circle Under
Capitol Dome Presents
Problem in History.

What should be done with the I'M
Capitol?
When the Seventeen Congress
meets a few months hence, the joint
committee on library, which has
charge Of the decorations in the
Capitol Building, will find this ques-
ton still waiting to be answered,
and While it is problematical whether
ii will be settled by the incoming
Congress, the consideration given the
problem during the past few years
undoubtedly will be continued.
This Summer. as in former years,
hundreds of tourists from all parts
of the United States are passing
through the legislative halls, and as
they are ushered into the spacious
rotunda beneath the dome their gaze
rests on a stretch of blank wall 26
feet in length in what was intended
to be a complete circle of art work
portrayino notable events in Ameri
can history.
The frieze as it stands today con-
sists of freSco paintings of a series
of historic episodes, beginning with
the landing of Columbus in 1892 and
covering the period from that time
to the date of the discovery of gold
in California, in 1S4S.
Must Select Events.
Should Congress decide to APP
propriate the necessary money TO
finish the present frieZe in fresco
work it will have to settle the inter-
eSting point as to what events are
most worthy of being depicted in the
comparatively small strip of wall
space remaining unadorned.
A few years ago, c. A. Whipple dec
grated a small part of the unfinished
section with painting symbolizing
THE Spirit of 1917" to demonstrate
to Congress that it would be feasible
to complete the frieze by the same
process of freSco treatment employed
by the artists who began the hitsOric
circle many years ago. With the
exception of this recent addition, the
frieze portrays nothing that occurred
in American history later than the
finding of gold in California in 1S4S.
First Of all. the question arises,
should the entire period from 184S to
1927 be considered in selecting the one
or two episodes for which there still
is room in the undecorated space, or
should the final panels be taken from
GNtllLS lIidL "Itnll a StiOlt
time after the last episode.
If the members of Congress favor
bringing the genealogical scope Of the
circle down to the present day. the
artists would find a storehouse OF
material in the record of what has
happened in this country in the last
Is years. And, bearing in mind that
there are less than 80 feet of wall
space remaining to be decorated, ii
would be no easy task to select the
subjects and events that are to be
symbolized in the frieze.
Three Wars.
In the realm of military history,
there are the Civil War, the Spanish
American conflict and the World War
to draw from, and, naturally, those
three eras would furnish more than
enough material to round out the
frieze. There is another suggestion,
however-that there should be some
space in the frieze exemplifying the
remarkable progress America has
made as nation in the last half
century.
Although the recent moves in Con-
gress on this subject have been di-
rected at obtaining a sufficient sum
ing, and to clean up the worn and in
jured places on the work done years
ago, consideration also has been given
to the probable cost Of reproducing
the entire frieZe in scNlptural relief.
either marble, limestone or compost
ton material.
Estimates obtained two years ago
by David Lynn, architect of the Cap
1toi, indicated the frieZe as it now eX-
lists could be finished in fresco at a
cost ranging from $4,000 to $40. 900:
in relief plaster. $4,000; in marble
composition. Sl50,000 in Indiana lime
stone, Sl95,000. or in white marble,
500, 900. Another estimate, including
preparation Of a new design for the
whole frieZe in marble, was placed
at S250.G00.
Old correspondence shows that be.
lore the original low dome was re.
placed by the present dome. draw
lngs were prepared contemplating a
aculptural frieze. The fresco adorn.
ment is partly the work OF Constan-
tlno Brumidi and partly Of Filippo-
C0staggini.
Advocates Marble Frieze.
charles Moore, chairman of the
Commission Of Fine Arts. believes
there should be a marble frieZe in the
rotunda. He pointed out that, many
years ago. plans were prepared for
changing the east front of the cen
trail portion OF the Capitol to make it
tit in better architecturally with the
dome and the two wings, and he be
lieves it would be desirable to provide
for the marble frieZe in the rotunda.
whcn that remodeling Of the east front
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