[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 205 Agreed to Senate (ATS)]








109th CONGRESS
  1st Session
S. RES. 205

Honoring the life and legacy of Constantino Brumidi and recognizing his 
  contributions to the United States on the 200th anniversary of his 
                                 birth.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             July 22, 2005

   Mr. Enzi (for himself, Mr. Kennedy, Mr. Sarbanes, Ms. Snowe, Mr. 
    Jeffords, Mr. Frist, Mrs. Clinton, and Mr. Reid) submitted the 
        following resolution; which was considered and agreed to

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
Honoring the life and legacy of Constantino Brumidi and recognizing his 
  contributions to the United States on the 200th anniversary of his 
                                 birth.

Whereas Constantino Brumidi was born in Rome, Italy, on July 26, 1805, to an 
        Italian mother and a Greek father who inspired his lifelong love of 
        liberty and freedom of expression;
Whereas Constantino Brumidi emigrated to the United States from Rome in 1852 and 
        became a naturalized citizen in 1857;
Whereas Constantino Brumidi established a reputation for excellence in his craft 
        that led to him being known as the ``Michelangelo of the Capitol'';
Whereas Constantino Brumidi represents the many immigrant artists and craftsmen 
        who have contributed over the years to the design and decoration of the 
        United States Capitol;
Whereas Constantino Brumidi painted murals and other outstanding artworks in the 
        United States Capitol over the last third of his life, between 1855 and 
        1880, including the first fresco painted in the United States, in what 
        is today the House Appropriations Committee Room, the famous ``Brumidi 
        Corridor'' on the Senate side of the Capitol, and the paintings in the 
        President's Room (S-216);
Whereas Constantino Brumidi painted ``The Apotheosis of George Washington'' and 
        began the frieze of American history on the interior of the dome above 
        the Rotunda at the center of the United States Capitol, but died while 
        working on sketches for the frieze;
Whereas Constantino Brumidi succeeded in his effort to encourage the use of the 
        Capitol as a living testament to the past, present, and glorious future 
        of the United States of America with his artwork, especially with his 
        murals; and
Whereas Constantino Brumidi's celebration of the liberty he found in America can 
        be seen in his signature on his painting that he was an Artist Citizen 
        of the United States and in his statement on being hired for his first 
        Capitol commission that, ``I no longer have any desire for fame or 
        fortune. 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.'': Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate, on behalf of the American people, honors 
the life and legacy of Constantino Brumidi, artist and patriot, and 
recognizes his many contributions to the world of art as well as the 
legacy of the United States as reflected in the building that houses 
Congress, the United States Capitol Building.
                                 <all>