[Congressional Record Volume 143, Number 137 (Monday, October 6, 1997)]
[Senate]
[Pages S10445-S10446]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 PROVIDING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE IN THE RESTORATION OF THE BASILICA OF 
                         ST. FRANCIS OF ASSISI

  Mr. DOMENICI. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 
proceed to the immediate consideration of Senate Resolution 131, 
submitted earlier today by Senator Domenici.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report.
  The assistant legislative clerk read as follows:


[[Page S10446]]


       A resolution (S. Res. 131) to express the sense of the 
     Senate regarding the provision of technical assistance in the 
     restoration of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi.

  Mr. DOMENICI. I ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, 
the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the 
table, and any statement relating to the resolution appear at this 
point in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  The resolution (S. Res. 131) was agreed to.
  The preamble was agreed to.
  The resolution with its preamble reads as follows:

                              S. Res. 131

       Whereas the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi is one of the 
     finest examples of Italian Gothic art and architecture;
       Whereas the Basilica is a living museum providing a home 
     for the art of several great masters of the 13th and 14th 
     centuries, and these art treasures depict scenes from the Old 
     Testament and New Testament;
       Whereas the Basilica housed the most interesting and 
     important pictorial cycle in Franciscan iconography;
       Whereas the famous fresco artist, Cimabue, began his work 
     in the Basilica in 1277, and the works of Cimabue are seen in 
     the apse and the vault of the Basilica and include a lovely 
     Madonna with Child;
       Whereas Cimabue's pupil, Giotto painted frescos at the turn 
     of the 14th century and completed 28 famous and beautiful 
     scenes based on St. Bonaventure's account of St. Francis' 
     major accomplishments during his life. The frescos depict the 
     life of St. Francis who had the special gift of understanding 
     and being able to speak to animals;
       Whereas other talented artists including Simone Martini and 
     Pietro Lorenzetti left their artistic mark on the Basilica 
     during the first half of the 14th century, frescoing the left 
     side of the transept of the Lower Church;
       Whereas the Basilica was severely damaged by twin 
     earthquakes on September 24 and 25, 1997, the extent of which 
     has been described as more devastating than the World War II 
     bombings of Padua and Pisa in 1944;
       Whease the famous frescoes painted by Giotto on the side 
     walls of the Basilica in the early 14th century and depicting 
     scenes from St. Francis' life are cracked but mostly intact;
       Whereas experts in Italy are already working to restore the 
     Basilica; and
       Whereas the National Gallery in London and the Louvre in 
     Paris have offered experts free of charge to help in the 
     restoration of the Basilica: Now, therefore, be it
       Resolved, That the Smithsonian Institution, the National 
     Gallery of Art and any of the other premier art museums in 
     the United States having pertinent expertise in restoration 
     should provide technical assistance to aid in the restoration 
     of the Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi and the works of art 
     that have been damaged in the earthquakes.

                          ____________________