[Congressional Record Volume 149, Number 112 (Friday, July 25, 2003)]
[Senate]
[Page S9977]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 61--AUTHORIZING AND REQUESTING THE 
PRESIDENT TO ISSUE A PROCLAMATION TO COMMEMORATE THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY 
                  OF THE BIRTH OF CONSTANTINO BRUMIDI

  Mr. LOTT submitted the following concurrent resolution; which was 
referred to the Committee on the Judiciary:

                            S. Con. Res. 61

       Whereas Constantino Brumidi, born in Rome, Italy, on July 
     26, 1805, landed at New York Harbor on September 18, 1852, as 
     a political exile, making his flight from Italy to the United 
     States because of his love for liberty;
       Whereas Constantino Brumidi's love for his adopted country 
     led him to seek citizenship 2 years after his arrival;
       Whereas in 1855, Constantino Brumidi began his artistic 
     work in the Capitol, and spent more than 25 years of his life 
     painting, decorating, and beautifying the corridors, 
     committee rooms, and Rotunda of the Capitol;
       Whereas Constantino Brumidi created many magnificent 
     paintings and decorations, depicting the history, inventions, 
     values, and ideals of the United States, thus enhancing the 
     dignity and beauty of the Capitol and inspiring millions of 
     visitors;
       Whereas in 1865, Constantino Brumidi painted, in just 11 
     months, his masterpiece ``The Apotheosis of Washington'' in 
     the canopy of the eye of the Capitol dome;
       Whereas in 1871, Constantino Brumidi created the first 
     tribute to an African-American in the Capitol when he placed 
     the figure of Crispus Attucks at the center of his painting 
     of the Boston Massacre;
       Whereas in 1877, at the age of 72, Constantino Brumidi 
     began his last work, the fresco frieze encircling the top of 
     the Rotunda, and 3 years later fell from a slipped 
     scaffolding and was never able to return to work;
       Whereas Constantino Brumidi died as a result of this 
     experience 3 months later in February 1880;
       Whereas Constantino Brumidi has been called ``the 
     Michelangelo of the Capitol'' by historians; and
       Whereas the year 2005 marks the 200th anniversary of the 
     birth of Constantino Brumidi, as well as the 150th 
     anniversary of the beginning of his artistic career in the 
     Capitol and the 125th anniversary of his death: Now, 
     therefore, be it
       Resolved by the Senate (the House of Representatives 
     concurring), That the President is authorized and requested 
     to issue a proclamation commemorating the 200th anniversary 
     of the birth of Constantino Brumidi and calling upon the 
     people of the United States, State and local governments, and 
     interested organizations to commemorate this anniversary with 
     appropriate ceremonies, activities, and programs.

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, Saturday, July 26, marks the 198th 
anniversary of the birth of Constantino Brumidi, the great artist who 
has been called the Michelangelo of the Capitol. When, in 2 years, the 
200th anniversary of Brumidi's birth is at hand, I believe the 
President should issue a proclamation commemorating Brumidi's life. 
Today, I am introducing a resolution authorizing such a proclamation.
  Constantino Brumidi was born in Rome in 1805 and immigrated to 
America in 1852. He began his artistic work in the Capitol in 1855 and, 
for the next 25 years, he labored to produce some of the most bold and 
moving frescoes and murals the world has ever seen. His paintings and 
decorations depict the history, inventions, values and ideals of the 
United States immeasurably enhancing the dignity and beauty of the 
Capitol. He designed and decorated on House and Senate committee rooms 
in the Capitol, as well as the Senate Reception Room, the Office of the 
Vice President and the President's Room. In 1856, Brumidi began 
creating designs for Senate corridors based on a loggia by Raphael in 
the Vatican, carefully integrating American motifs into a classical 
framework.
  He was very proud of becoming an American citizen and is reported to 
have said: ``I no longer wish for fame and 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.'' He did 
not live long enough to finish his work; but he lived long enough to 
make the Capitol incredibly beautiful.
  The man who labored a quarter century to make the Halls of Congress 
so magnificent deserves the recognition of the American people. Through 
this resolution, I believe we will provide appropriate recognition.

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