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Frank Sinatra Lodge # 2621
Punti di interesse "Points of Interest"
Constantino Brumidi, the Artist of the United States
United States Capitol, in Washington, D.C., is Italy's
greatest gift to America.
Constantino Brumidi spent 25 years of his life making
beautiful the most important building in the U.S. -- the
Capitol, including its magnificent Rotunda with his
beautiful Apotheosis of Washington in the dome;
Born in Italy in 1805, of Italian and Greek parents, he
brought to the U.S. the finest art traditions and styles of
Italy (fresco painting in the styles of the High Italian
Renaissance and the Baroque);
Brumidi painted many rooms and spaces in the Capitol,
including the magnificent President's Room, the Office
of the Vice President, the Senate Reception Room, the
Brumidi Corridors and the "Frieze of American History,"
also in the Rotunda.
Having come to the U.S., in 1852, seeking liberty, he truly
loved America and considered painting in the Capitol his
greatest joy and highest honor. Brumidi gratefully received
his citizenship, in 1857. He is famous for saying,
"My one ambition and my daily prayer is that I may live
long enough to make beautiful the Capitol of the one
country on earth in which there is liberty."
He personifies the immigrant dream of a productive life
and a better future in the U.S.
Brumidi was also a well recognized church artist,
having painted in major Catholic churches in New York
City, Philadelphia, Baltimore and Washington, D. C.
(For more information on Brumidi, go to the Architect of the
Capitol website at www.aoc.gov hit Capitol Complex, then
Art, then, The Apotheosis of Washington,
The Frieze of American History and
The Brumidi Corridors).
The Constantino Brumidi Society was formed in February
2000 to promote the memory of Brumidi, promote an
appreciation of his works of art, both secular and religious,
and insure that he is properly recognized, particularly by
the Congress of the United States.
Brumidi has been recognized by Congress, as recently as
2005, when on the 200th anniversary of his birth, a
memorial service took place, in the Rotunda of the Capitol,
under his great Apotheosis of Washington.
The Constantino Brumidi Society worked in concert with
the following major national organizations to bring about
this important ceremony:
The Order of the Sons of Italy in America (OSIA),
The American Hellenic Educational Progressive
Association (AHEPA),
The National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and
The Conference of Presidents of Major Italian
American Organizations.
(It should be noted that The Constantino Brumidi
Society is not a membership organization and does
not solicit funds from the public).
Now, there is a bill in Congress, H.R 1609, to award
Brumidi, posthumously, Americas greatest civilian
honor, the Congressional Gold Medal.
We are again working with the above organizations to
accomplish this. But, this will not be an easy task
and we will need the direct support from many of the
members of the above organizations.
Watch for our next message to find out how you can
help make this important bill law.
Finally, we hope that the Congress of the United States
will eventually name the, presently under construction,
Capitol Visitor Center after Brumidi.
When it opens, next year, the more than four million
visitors a year to the Capitol will be introduced to the
most important building in the United States through
this new building.
Wouldnt it be wonderful if it was named after
Constantino Brumidi, the person who made
the Capitol beautiful and who was
Italys greatest gift to America?
Thank you for your kind attention.
Sincerely,
Joseph N. Grano, Chair
The Constantino Brumidi Society
Washington, D.C.
joegrano@netzero.com
