[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 16 (Tuesday, February 10, 2004)]
[House]
[Pages H409-H411]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




AUTHORIZING ISSUANCE OF PROCLAMATION COMMEMORATING 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF 
                      BIRTH OF CONSTANTINO BRUMIDI

  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to the 
concurrent resolution (H. Con. Res. 264) authorizing and requesting the 
President to issue a proclamation to commemorate the 200th anniversary 
of the birth of Constantino Brumidi.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                            H. Con. Res. 264

       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 House of Representatives (the Senate 
     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.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Florida (Mr. Mica) and the gentleman from Illinois (Mr. Davis) each 
will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica).
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I am pleased to offer a resolution, the fourth measure today. This 
bill passed

[[Page H410]]

the Committee on Government Reform and will be considered by the full 
House at this time, a resolution which would honor the memory of 
Constantino Brumidi.
  Not too many people have probably heard of Constantino Brumidi. He is 
not exactly a household word or name in America, but Constantino 
Brumidi has been called the Michelangelo of the United States Capitol 
Building. House Concurrent Resolution 264 was introduced to honor both 
the life and also the work and creative genius of Constantino Brumidi.
  Mr. Brumidi was an Italian immigrant who spent 25 years, from 1855 to 
1880, painting, decorating and making the United States Capitol as we 
know it even today a more beautiful place to live and visit and have as 
a treasure for our country.
  Brumidi was born in Italy in 1805, and he worked as an artist in 
Rome. He also worked in the Vatican, where he had many commissions, 
including a famous portrait of Pope Pius IX.
  In 1852, Brumidi immigrated to the United States; and he dedicated 
really the balance of his life to making this building, our United 
States Capitol, one of the most impressive structures in our great 
Nation.
  In 1865, Brumidi spent 11 months walking dangerously and working high 
atop the Capitol rotunda where he labored on his masterpiece. His 
masterpiece, and we can see it today if we walk out into the rotunda 
and look up, is called The Apotheosis of Washington, and it is located 
in the very center, in the eye of the dome of the ceiling of the 
Capitol.
  Six years later, he 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.
  In 1878, at the age of 72 and in poor health, Brumidi began work on 
the rotunda frieze. If we look in the Capitol around the frieze, about 
midway, we can see his work. The frieze chronicles the history of the 
United States.
  Constantino Brumidi's life and work exemplifies the lives of millions 
of immigrants who came to the United States, and they came from all 
lands, sometimes to escape adverse conditions, to build a better life, 
to leave the problems of their native lands, and they brought their 
skills and their hard work and their talents, which not only bettered 
their lives and those of their children but immensely created the art, 
the trade, the richness that we have in the United States and enjoy 
today.
  There are many organizations supporting this resolution, including 
NAIF, which is the National American Italian Foundation. That is an 
organization that promotes Italian American relations, cultural and 
business relations. We also have other numerous United States Italian 
American groups who support the recognition that we are bringing 
forward today, again to recognize the life and talents of Constantino 
Brumidi.
  The year 2005 is the bicentennial of Brumidi's work, and I can think 
of no better way to honor this patriotic Italian American's 
contribution to our great Nation, to this incredibly historic building, 
than by passing this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge passage of the resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I 
would consume.
  Let me, first of all, commend the gentleman for his introduction of 
this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, H. Con. Res. 264 honors the 200th anniversary of the 
birth of Constantino Brumidi. Mr. Brumidi was a wonderful artist who 
dedicated over 25 years to painting the Capitol Building. He is a 
symbol of the American dream. Born in Italy, he moved to the United 
States and, like so many other immigrants, made wonderful contributions 
to our great country.
  Although Mr. Brumidi was known for his masterpiece, The Apotheosis of 
Washington, located in the Capitol dome, I would like to mention the 
fact that he was first to use the Capitol to pay tribute to an African 
American when he painted Crispus Attucks in his portrayal of the Boston 
Massacre.
  Another treasure is Brumidi's corridors, the beautifully decorated 
corridors on the first floor of the Senate wing in the Capitol.
  Mr. Brumidi's work is enjoyed by the millions of visitors to the 
Capitol each year, as well as by those of us who have the privilege of 
using the Capitol for official business.
  Mr. Speaker, an outstanding artist, whose work continues to delight 
and inspire millions of people each and every year as they come and 
visit the Capitol, as they view portraits of the Capitol and as they 
recognize the tremendous masterpiece that this edifice is, and so I 
commend my colleague, the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica), for 
introducing this resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  In closing, I urge my colleagues to support House Concurrent 
Resolution 264, a resolution again recognizing the 200th anniversary of 
the birth of Constantino Brumidi. I urge its adoption.
  Mr. EMANUEL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in strong support of the 
proclamation to commemorate the 200th anniversary of Constantino 
Brumidi's birth. Often referred to as the Michelangelo of the Capitol, 
Constantino Brumidi's frescoes decorate the Capitol Rotunda, House 
Chamber, committee rooms, and corridors of the Capitol with their 
incorporation of classical artistic traditions and patriotic American 
themes.
  Born in Italy in 1805, Constantino Brumidi studied at the Italian 
Academy of Arts and demonstrated his talent for fresco painting at a 
young age, painting several Roman palaces and working three years in 
the Vatican. He immigrated to America in 1852 at the age of forty-seven 
and settled in New York City. The artist later took on other important 
works such as the frescoes in St. Stephen's Church and an allegorical 
depiction of the Holy Trinity in a Mexico City cathedral. It was upon 
his return from Mexico that Constantino Brumidi stopped in Washington 
and visited the Capitol where he was excited about the opportunity to 
decorate its interiors.
  Constantino Brumidi was hired by Captain Montgomery Meigs and his 
first art work in the Capitol was in the House Committee on 
Agriculture's room. Because his art garnered such favorable attention, 
he was awarded more commissions and eventually became a Government 
painter. While Brumidi created scores of frescoes depicting allegories 
and scenes from American history, perhaps his most important work was 
``The Apotheosis of George Washington'' which appears in the Rotunda of 
the Capitol dome and depicts Washington's ascension to heaven. Today, 
no visit to the Capitol is complete without viewing this incredible 
work. Although immigrating to America later in life, he drew from his 
Italian artistic experience and blended it with the history of his new 
country. The artist took great pride in his new home, even signing one 
fresco, ``C. Brumidi Artist Citizen of the U.S.''
  Mr. Speaker, on behalf of my district's more than 62,000 constituents 
of Italian descent, I am proud to join this body in celebrating 
Constantino Brumidi's lasting contributions to our country as the 200th 
anniversary of his birth approaches.
  Mr. PAYNE. Mr. Speaker, as a cosponsor of H. Con. Res. 264, I am very 
pleased to join in this effort to honor the life and accomplishments of 
Constantino Brumidi. An Italian immigrant of partial Greek descent, his 
beautiful works of art grace our greatest symbol of democracy, our 
Capitol building where we gather to conduct the nation's business and 
where we welcome hundreds of thousands of visitors from around the 
world each year.
   Constantino Brumidi spent 25 years of his life, from 1855 to 1880, 
painting, decorating and enhancing the beauty of the United States 
Capitol. This talented artist was born in Rome, Italy to Stauros 
Brumidi from Greece and Anna Bianchini Brumidi of Rome on July 26, 
1805. He was trained as an artist and painted in Rome and at the 
Vatican. He arrived in New York City as a political refugee on 
September 18, 1852 and became an American citizen in 1857. He began 
painting in the U.S. Capitol on February 19, 1855 and spent more than 
25 years of his life painting, decorating and beautifying the 
corridors, committee rooms and the Rotunda of the Capitol. 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 tens of 
millions of visitors. In 1865, he painted in just 11 months his 
masterpiece, The Apotheosis of Washington in the canopy of the eye of 
the Capitol dome. In 1871, 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. He died 
on February 19, 1880, exactly 25 years to the day that he first began 
work in the Capitol.

[[Page H411]]

   Brumidi also painted in Catholic churches in cities along the east 
coast, including Washington, DC (St. Aloyisus Church), Baltimore, Md., 
Philadelphia Pa. and most especially, in St. Stephen's Catholic Church 
in New York City. Brumidi is buried in Glenwood Cemetery in Washington, 
DC. His grave marker there was authorized and paid for by the U.S. 
Congress in 1950.
   Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend the Constantino Brumidi 
Society, and its Chair, Joseph N. Grano, for all of their hard work in 
promoting a deeper appreciation of the works of this great artist. The 
Constantino Brumidi Society was organized in February 2000 by 
individuals with a special interest in the U.S. Capitol and Italian 
culture for the purpose of educating the public about the life and work 
of Constantino Brumidi.
  The lofty goal of the Constantino Brumidi Society is to make 
Americans more familiar with his works of art in the Capitol and 
elsewhere, and to encourage an appreciation for the fine art traditions 
of the Italian High Renaissance and Baroque which Brumidi studied and 
employed. They also aim to support and encourage the preservation and 
conservation of Brumidi's paintings and frescoes in the Capitol and 
elsewhere, particularly at Our Lady of the Scapular and St. Stephen's 
Catholic Church in New York City.
  In forming this organization, it was also their hope that by 
celebrating Constantino Brumidi's life and art, this Italian immigrant 
and American citizen who did so much to beautify the most important 
building in his adopted country would become a household name, and that 
every American would come to know this wonderful story. His life story 
should be seen as emblematic of all the millions of immigrants who came 
to the United States to better themselves and in consequence enormously 
enriched their new homeland. In the moving words of Brumidi himself, 
``I have no longer 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.''
  The Society has as its special focus the year 2005, which will be the 
bicentennial of Constantino Brumidi's birth, the 150th anniversary of 
his commencing work in the Capitol and the 125th anniversary of his 
death.
  Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to join me in supporting this 
resolution to honor a man who has secured a special place in our 
history and in our hearts, both as an extraordinary artist and an 
outstanding patriot.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Florida (Mr. Mica) that the House suspend the rules and 
agree to the concurrent resolution, H. Con. Res. 264.
  The question was taken.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. In the opinion of the Chair, two-thirds of 
those present have voted in the affirmative.
  Mr. MICA. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.
  The yeas and nays were ordered.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX and the 
Chair's prior announcement, further proceedings on this motion will be 
postponed.

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