Constantino Brumidi

Constantino Brumidi (July 26, 1805 in Rome, Italy-February 19, 1880, Washington, DC), was an Italian-American historical painter, best known and honored for his fresco work in the Capitol Building in Washington, DC.

Related Topics:
July 26 - 1805 - Rome - Italy - February 19 - 1880 - Washington, DC - Italian-American - Historical - Painter - Fresco - Capitol

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Brumidi's father was a native of Filiatra in western Messinia, a district in the Peloponnesos, a region in southern Greece and his mother, of Italian origin, from Rome. He showed his talent for fresco painting at an early age and painted in several Roman palaces, among them being that of Prince Torlonia. Under Gregory XVI he worked for three years in the Vatican. The occupation of Rome by French forces in 1849 apparently persuaded Brumidi to emigrate, and he sailed for the United States, where he became a naturalized citizen in 1852. Taking up his residence in New York City, the artist painted a number of portraits. Subsequently he undertook more important works, the principal being a fresco of the Crucifixion in St. Stephen's Church, for which he also executed a "Martyrdom of St. Stephen" and an "Assumption of the Virgin".

Related Topics:
Filiatra - Messinia - Peloponnesos - Greece - Rome - Palace - Gregory XVI - Vatican - Occupation - French - 1849 - Emigrate - United States - Naturalized - Citizen - 1852 - New York City - Portraits - Crucifixion - Martyrdom - St. Stephen - Assumption - Virgin

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In 1854 Brumidi went to Mexico City, Mexico, where he painted in the cathedral an allegorical representation of the Holy Trinity. On his way back to New York he stopped at Washington and visited the Capitol. Impressed with the opportunity for decoration presented by its vast interior wall spaces, he offered his services for that purpose to Quartermaster-General Meigs. This offer was accepted, and about the same time he was commissioned as a captain of cavalry.

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Mexico City - Mexico - Cathedral - Holy Trinity - Wall - Quartermaster-General - Meigs - Commissioned - Captain - Cavalry

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His first art work in the Capitol Building was in the meeting room of the House Committee on Agriculture. At first he received eight dollars a day, which Jefferson Davis, then Secretary of War of the United States, caused to be increased to ten dollars. His work attracting much favourable attention, he was given further commisssons, and gradually settled into the position of a Government painter. His chief work in Washington was done in the rotunda of the Capitol and included the apotheosis of Washington in the dome, as well as other allegories, and scenes from American history. His work in the rotunda was left unfinished at his death, but he had decorated many other sections of the building.

Related Topics:
House Committee on Agriculture - Dollars - Secretary of War - United States - Rotunda - American history

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In the Catholic Cathedral of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania he pictured St. Peter and St. Paul. Brumidi was a capable, if conventional painter, and his black and white modelling in the work at Washington, in imitation of bas-relief, is strikingly effective.

Related Topics:
Philadelphia - Pennsylvania

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