Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-02-06
ITALIAN ART WORK
IN CAPITOL LAUDED
Part in ScuIpturaI Decora.
ton Recalled by Fairnon
in Address.

The important part played by italian
aat and artists in the Sculptural decoro-
tton of the National Capitol was the
subject of an address recently delivered
before the Italy-American Society by
Charles Fairnon, for 81 years curator
of art at the Capitol.
Starting at the time when Thomas
Jefferson became interested In Italian
art through his neighbor, DR.. Mazzei,
in Albemarle County, Va, Mr.. Fairnon
gave throughout his address many per-
Sonal glimpses of the men who crossed
the ocean to help beautify the buildings
which were Just starting to be erected
I'm l773 an italian physician, named
Mazzei, interested in the cultivation
of olives, grapes and other Italian
fruits in the new country, arrived IN
Albemarle County, Va, and, through
mutual cultural interests, soon became
a close f@end of his neighbor, Thomas
Jefferson Mr.. Fairnon stated, Years
later. when Jefferson was President
and Mazzei had returned to his own
country, the question arose regarding
the decoration of the new Capitol, then
under construction. Jefferson suggest
ed to the Capitol architect, Latrobe,
that he write to DR.. Mazzei, in Italy
for assistance in obtaining Italian
sculptors to help in the work on the
Lie ICou1b "a bAAC AC1OCA Woo
the acceptance by two sculptors,
Giovanni Andrea and Guiseppi Fran
zoni, of the offer by the United States
Government to come to this country.
They were paid q salary, beginning
with the day they left Italy, and the
records show that, although they left
Laghorn in october, 1905, they did not
1906, 146 days in crossing the ocean,"
Started Work Upon Arrival.
Mr. Fairnon recalled how the two
SculptorS proceeded with their work
immediately upon their arrival-how
the first work executed was in what
was to be later the House Of Repre-
sentatives, but this work was destroyed
by the British in the burning Of the
Capitol In 1914. GuiSeppi Franzoni
died the year following the destruction
of the Capitol and so was unable to
assist in its reconstruction. But Gio-
vanni Andrea received the commission
to return to Italy and have executed
the "a columns of Carrarra marble
which now stand In Statuary Hail. He
remained in Italy for about a year,
bringing with him on his return two
other italian sculptors, Carlo FranZoni,
a younger brother of Guiseppi, and
Francesca Iardella, both Of whom
helped in the work which is now to be
seen in Staruary Hall. It was Carlo
Franzoni who executed the card of
History" or the "Franzoni Clock"
considered one Of the finest pieces Of
Statuary in Washington.
Charles Bullfnch of Boston, the
Capitol architect who succeeded La
trobe, also continued to employ Italians
in the Sculptural decoration of the Cap
itol. One of these men, GuiSeppi
Valaperti, who executed the eagle on
the frieze In Statuary Hall, later dis
appeared in q most mysterious manner
and no trace Of him was ever found.
Investigated Disappearance.
Apparently the newspapers Of a hun
dred years ago did not place the i'm
portance upon mysterious disappear
ances which is given them by the jour-
mails of the present day. Relative to
his endeavors to trace the history of
Valaperti and his mysterious disap-
paerance, Mr.. Fairnon said: "I made
the most intensive research in all the
papers published at the time Of Vala-
perti'S disappearance. Although he
was a prominent sculptor and well
known in Washington, the only men
ton which I could find of his name
was the publication Of his will for pro-
bate. He had made will before his
disappearance, it seems. and left pro-