[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 95 (Tuesday, June 10, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H5157-H5160]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TO AWARD POSTHUMOUSLY A CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL TO CONSTANTINO BRUMIDI
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the
Senate bill (S. 254) to award posthumously a Congressional gold medal
to Constantino Brumidi.
The Clerk read the title of the Senate bill.
The text of the Senate bill is as follows:
S. 254
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. FINDINGS.
Congress finds the following:
(1) On July 26, 1805, Constantino Brumidi was born in Rome,
Italy of an Italian mother and a Greek father who inspired
him with a love of liberty.
(2) While Constantino Brumidi's Greek ancestry stirred his
passion for liberty and citizenship, his Italian heritage
provided the art styles of the Renaissance and the Baroque
which influenced the artwork of the United States Capitol.
(3) Constantino Brumidi became a citizen of the United
States as soon as he was able, embracing its history, values,
and ideals.
(4) Beginning in 1855, Constantino Brumidi designed and
decorated 1 House and 5 Senate committee rooms in the
Capitol, as well as the Senate Reception Room, the Office of
the Vice President, and, most notably, the President's Room,
which represents Brumidi's supreme effort ``to make beautiful
the Capitol'' of the United States.
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(5) In 1865, Constantino Brumidi completed in just 11
months his masterpiece, ``The Apotheosis of Washington'', in
the eye of the Capitol dome.
(6) 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 fresco of the
Boston Massacre.
(7) In 1878, Constantino Brumidi, at the age of 72 and in
poor health, began work on the Rotunda frieze, which
chronicles the history of America.
(8) On February 19, 1880, Constantino Brumidi died at the
age of 74, four and a half months after slipping and nearly
falling from a scaffold while working on the Rotunda frieze.
(9) Constantino Brumidi, proud of his artistic
accomplishments and devoted to his adopted country, said,
``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.''.
(10) Constantino Brumidi's life and work exemplify the
lives of millions of immigrants who came to pursue the
American dream.
SEC. 2. CONGRESSIONAL GOLD MEDAL.
(a) Presentation Authorized.--
(1) In general.--The Speaker of the House of
Representatives and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate
shall make appropriate arrangements for the posthumous
presentation, on behalf of Congress, of a gold medal of
appropriate design to Constantino Brumidi, in recognition of
his contributions to the Nation.
(2) Display of medal in capitol visitor center.--The
Architect of the Capitol shall arrange for the gold medal
presented under this subsection to be displayed in the
Capitol Visitor Center, as part of an exhibit honoring
Constantino Brumidi.
(b) Design and Striking.--For purposes of the presentation
referred to in subsection (a), the Secretary of the Treasury
(referred to in this Act as the ``Secretary'') shall strike a
gold medal with suitable emblems, devices, and inscriptions
to be determined by the Secretary.
SEC. 3. DUPLICATE MEDALS.
The Secretary may strike and sell duplicates in bronze of
the gold medal struck pursuant to section 2 under such
regulations as the Secretary may prescribe, at a price
sufficient to cover the cost thereof, including labor,
materials, dies, use of machinery, and overhead expenses, and
the cost of the gold medal.
SEC. 4. STATUS OF MEDALS.
(a) National Medals.--The medals struck under this Act are
national medals for purposes of chapter 51 of title 31,
United States Code.
(b) Numismatic Items.--For purposes of section 5134 of
title 31, United States Code, all medals struck under this
Act shall be considered to be numismatic items.
SEC. 5. AUTHORITY TO USE FUND AMOUNTS; PROCEEDS OF SALE.
(a) Authority To Use Fund Amounts.--There is authorized to
be charged against the United States Mint Public Enterprise
Fund, such amounts as may be necessary to pay for the costs
of the medals struck pursuant to this Act.
(b) Proceeds of Sale.--Amounts received from the sale of
duplicate bronze medals authorized under section 3 shall be
deposited into the United States Mint Public Enterprise Fund.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from New
York (Mr. Ackerman) and the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs.
Capito) each will control 20 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New York.
General Leave
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all Members
have 5 legislative days within which to revise and extend their remarks
on this legislation and to insert extraneous material thereon.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from New York?
There was no objection.
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of S. 254 which would
posthumously award the Congressional Gold Medal to Constantino Brumidi
and would authorize the striking of duplicate medals for sale to the
public.
Mr. Speaker, for those of us who work here in the Capitol, we are
very fortunate to be surrounded by Constantino Brumidi's genius every
day. Brumidi's awesome, inspiring murals and frescos are remarkable as
they are ubiquitous. Constantino Brumidi's works can be found in three
Senate Appropriations Committee rooms, the House Appropriations
Committee room, the Senate Democratic Policy Committee room, the
Brumidi corridors, the Senate reception area, the Office of the Vice
President and, of course, the Rotunda. Like his masterful works
throughout the Capitol, Constantino Brumidi's story is uniquely
American.
Brumidi was born in Rome in 1805 to an Italian mother and a Greek
father. His artistic ability was cultivated at an early age. In his
early years, he was commissioned to paint frescos and murals in various
Roman palaces. And then in 1849, as did so many of our ancestors,
Brumidi, who was already an established artist in Italy and who spent 3
years working for Pope Gregory XVI in the Vatican, migrated to the
United States and began a new life in New York City. There he proudly
became a naturalized American citizen in 1852.
It was on a return trip from Mexico that Constantino Brumidi first
saw the U.S. Capitol. It was a fortuitous twist of fate: at a time when
Congress and President Franklin Pierce were preparing to expand the
Capitol, a word-class Italian American artist, who just happened to be
passing through Washington, inspired by both the freedoms and liberties
represented by the seat of Congress and the vast open spaces in the
Capitol that seemed to invite frescos and murals, offered his services
to Quartermaster General Montgomery C. Meigs. Wisely, Meigs
commissioned Brumidi to become the artist of the Capitol.
Brumidi's first work was in the Agricultural Committee room. This
masterpiece received such favorable attention that he was given a raise
and tasked with painting other larger works culminating with the works
in the Capitol Rotunda.
{time} 1530
There is no work in the Capitol more impressive or more renowned than
``The Apotheosis of Washington.'' Brumidi completed the fresco in 11
months at the end of the Civil War, soon after the new dome was
completed. This absolutely stunning work soars 180 feet above the
Rotunda floor. To compensate for the distance from the floor to the
ceiling, Brumidi, who spent years mastering depth and scale, painted
15-foot tall figures so that the work could be appreciated from the
Rotunda floor.
Another Brumidi masterpiece, ``The Frieze of American History,''
appears just underneath the dome and spans the entire 360 degrees of
the Capitol Rotunda. The frieze, which initially looks to be carved or
sculpted, as all who view it believe it to be three dimensional, was,
in actuality, meticulously painted with the use of scaffolding. While
Brumidi first sketched a design of the frieze in 1859, Congress did not
authorize work to begin on this piece until 18 years later, in 1877.
The work masterfully displays America's history, beginning with the
landing of Christopher Columbus and continuing to the discovery of gold
in California. While many visitors to the Capitol have seen Brumidi's
genius in the frieze over the years, they may not realize that he
nearly lost his life while painting it. While working on a figure of
William Penn, 76-year-old Brumidi fell from the scaffolding, but saved
himself by clinging to the rung of a ladder for 15 long minutes before
he was rescued. While he subsequently ascended the scaffolding once
more to continue his work, he died a few months later in 1880. It took
two additional artists and 73 years to finish the masterpiece that
Constantino Brumidi first began.
Mr. Speaker, Constantino Brumidi's service to the Capitol, and our
country, span the administration of six, six Presidents: Franklin
Pierce, James Buchanan, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Johnson, Ulysses S.
Grant, Rutherford B. Hayes. On and on, Brumidi worked. All of us here
in the Capitol that have the privilege of working in this living
museum, as well as the millions of visitors that tour our building each
year, who admire and relish Brumidi's works, but precious few know the
story of the artist of the Capitol.
In addition to awarding Constantino Brumidi with the Congressional
Gold Medal, S. 254 directs the Architect of the Capitol to display the
gold medal as an exhibition in the new visitor's center dedicated to
Brumidi's life and work. I believe such an exhibit is long past due and
would be to the benefit of future generations of Americans who come to
see the Capitol and admire the brilliant works of Constantino Brumidi,
reminding us yet again that we are a Nation built by immigrants.
Mr. Speaker, Constantino Brumidi was a great son of Italy and a great
American. His achievements are a
[[Page H5159]]
great source of pride for Italian Americans, and S. 254 would bestow
Brumidi, and the Italian American community, with the recognition the
artist's great contributions so rightly deserve.
Special thanks are due to Representative Bill Pascrell from New
Jersey, the main sponsor of this bill that we have before us in the
House today.
And I'd like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of somebody
who visits us here in the gallery today, Mr. Speaker, Joseph Grano,
who's the president of the Constantino Brumidi Society, for his long
and tireless efforts on this behalf.
Mr. Speaker, this is a great day for those who love fine art,
creativity, American history, and who appreciate the contributions of
Italian American immigrants and all immigrants for the culture and
history of our country.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of S. 254, a bill to
award a Congressional Gold Medal honoring the great artistic work of
Constantino Brumidi on this great Capitol building. The bill was
introduced by Senator Enzi and has 99 cosponsors in the Senate, and in
the House, a companion bill was introduced by our colleague, Mr.
Pascrell, which has 307 cosponsors.
As we've heard much of Mr. Brumidi's history, he created artworks in
the House of Representatives Chamber, many committee rooms, the
President's Room, the Senate Chamber, and throughout the corridors of
the Capitol. His most famous work within these halls is ``The
Apotheosis of George Washington,'' which appears on the Capitol dome in
the Rotunda. Mr. Brumidi painted these hallowed halls, and in so doing,
he depicted the narrative that is the vivid history of these United
States.
Born in Italy in 1805, Constantino Brumidi studied at the Italian
Academy of the Arts. In 1852, at the age of 47, he emigrated to America
and devoted the rest of his years completing frescoes, sculptures, and
paintings in the Capitol Building.
The story of Constantino Brumidi is important not only because he was
the artist who gave life to these walls, but because his story is the
American story. He was an immigrant to this country, and he used the
skill that he had to contribute what he could. In the process, he, like
millions of others, built this country into what it is today.
Immigrants built this Nation's building, constructed its factories, fed
its people, and when called upon, defended its sovereignty. Men and
women from this great Nation's inception contributed whatever they
could to make this Nation better.
Constantino Brumidi contributed his talents as an artist. And now,
because of his efforts, we and all who walk through the Capitol may see
not only his talent but this country's history and be filled with the
same sense of awe and hope that filled those who walked these halls
before us. That, ladies and gentlemen, is a wonderful gift.
On February 19, 1880, at the age of 74, Constantino Brumidi died
four-and-a-half months after falling from a scaffolding while working
on the Rotunda frieze that chronicles the history of America. He spent
his entire time in this country contributing and attempting to fulfill
his life's goal. He said, ``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.''
As we stand here today and walk these halls, it is clear to all that
Constantino Brumidi accomplished his goal.
This bill awards Constantino Brumidi the Congressional Gold Medal for
his contribution. The medal will be displayed in the Capitol Visitor's
Center as part of a display honoring his work.
Mr. Speaker, I urge the bill's immediate passage.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, I yield 6 minutes to the sponsor of the
bill, Bill Pascrell of New Jersey.
Mr. PASCRELL. Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to stand in strong support
of S. 254, or H.R. 1609 in the House, to award this posthumous
Congressional Gold Medal to Constantino Brumidi which would be
displayed in the Capitol Visitor's Center. This American immigrant was
the creator of some of the most beautiful works of art in the United
States Capitol Building.
As the sponsor of the House version of this bill and as cochair of
the Congressional Italian American delegation, this is an issue very
close to me, Mr. Speaker.
Now, these things don't happen in a vacuum. I want to express my
sincere gratitude to Senator Enzi and Senator Clinton, to Congresswoman
Carolyn Maloney, to Congressman John Mica, to Congressman Zack Space
and Gus Bilirakis, and my very close friend Gary Ackerman, John
Sarbanes, Michael Burgess, and Rick Renzi for their tireless work in
garnering support for this worthy initiative.
If it were not for the diligent advocacy efforts of the Constantino
Brumidi Society, the American Hellenic Educational Progressive
Association, and the National Italian American Foundation, we would not
be standing here today. It's as simple as that.
Born in Rome of Italian and Greek heritage in 1805, Constantino
Brumidi trained in drawing, painting and sculpture at Rome's
prestigious Accademia di San Luca.
In 1840, this rigorous artistic training was put on display when
Brumidi and several other artists were commissioned to restore the
richly decorated frescos in the Vatican Palace.
He immigrated to the United States in 1852, with nothing in his
pocket, and when he died, he had nothing in his pocket. His only
objective was to come here and become an American citizen, and he did
that in 5 years. He gave it all, as you walk through this beautiful
edifice of freedom that everyone knows all over the world.
In 25 years, from 1854 to 1879, he decorated the Capitol with murals
and frescos. His frescos in this Capitol were probably the first true
frescos to be painted in the United States of America.
Brumidi believed that the classical architecture of the Capitol
Building required real fresco, like the palaces of Augustus and Nero,
and the baths of Titus and Livia at Rome, and the admired relics of the
painting at Herculaneium and Pompei.
His art drew heavily on his training and experience in Rome,
incorporating the history and symbols of the United States into his
classical repertoire. His most significant influences included ancient
Greek and Roman wall paintings and Raphael's classical decoration in
the Vatican.
Although he's often called the Michelangelo of the Capitol, this
immigrant who came here and gave everything to this country, Brumidi
perhaps should be called the Raphael of the Capitol, since it was
Raphael who was his greatest inspiration.
Brumidi's creations in the Capitol Building include his masterpiece,
the allegorical fresco, ``The Apotheosis of Washington,'' in the 4,664-
square foot canopy over the eye of the dome, 180 feet above the floor
of the Rotunda. He also painted the extensive frescos in the Brumidi
corridors throughout this Capitol.
His last years were spent painting the historic scenes in the Rotunda
frieze, even carrying out his own historic research for his work.
Outside of his work in this Capitol, he also was well-connected in
the Catholic church. His commissions included altar pieces and murals
in important cathedrals in Mexico City, New York City, Washington,
Baltimore, and Philadelphia.
The consummate American, Brumidi is reported to have remarked: ``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 which there is
liberty.''
Sadly, at the time of his death in 1880, as I said, he was penniless.
Following his death, his work was roundly criticized by the artistic
establishment of his day. However, the 1970s, not that far long ago,
brought a renewed appreciation for Victorian architecture and
decoration and the growth of the historic preservation, and work was
done to restore Brumidi's art to its former glory. Today's scholars are
able to fully comprehend the full extent of his talent.
Even though he is long gone, it is imperative that we fully recognize
the transcendental beauty, the intricate grace he brought to the
building that we stand in and that we work in every day.
There is widespread bipartisan support for this initiative. You heard
how many cosponsors in the Senate, as my
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good friend from West Virginia pointed out how many, 307, right here in
the House of Representatives. What great testimony.
I urge my colleagues, Mr. Speaker, to support this legislation and to
remember the background of this individual, his Italian and his Greek
heritage, and think of all the immigrants when we think of Brumidi and
his contributions.
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield as much time as he would consume to
the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Bilirakis).
Mr. BILIRAKIS. Thank you very much.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today with great pride in support of Senate bill
254 to posthumously award Constantino Brumidi the Congressional Gold
Medal. We have just heard from the previous speakers the life and times
of this inspired artist with whom I'm very proud to share the same
Greek heritage.
Many walk through the halls of Congress, but do not know much about
the man who dedicated most of his professional life to beautifying it.
Constantino Brumidi, a Greek and Italian immigrant, came to America
in search of freedom and opportunity. What he accomplished rivals most
any immigrant success story. Constantino Brumidi's life and work
exemplify the lives of millions of immigrants who came to pursue the
American dream.
{time} 1545
Soon after becoming an American citizen, Brumidi was commissioned to
decorate the structure which houses the greatest democratic institution
in world history. This feat is a testament both to Brumidi's resolve,
and our great Nation's willingness to embrace those who want to share
in the American dream.
I would also love this award to be accompanied with a statue that
would adorn the Capitol Visitors Center. That's why I have introduced
H.R. 1313. A statue of Brumidi, along with a Congressional Gold Medal,
will serve as a shining example of American ideals and inspire people
everywhere who wish to embrace freedom.
While it has taken over 130 years, it is never too late for the
installment of this Gold Medal in recognition of the contributions of
Constantino Brumidi to the Nation. Congratulations, and I urge all my
colleagues to support this bill.
Mr. ACKERMAN. Mr. Speaker, at this time, I yield 3 minutes to the
gentlewoman from New York (Mrs. Maloney).
Mrs. MALONEY of New York. I thank my good friend and colleague from
the great State of New York for his hard work on this and so many
endeavors. And I rise today, as the cochair and cofounder on the
Congressional Caucus on Hellenic Issues, in strong support of S. 254,
to award posthumously a Congressional Gold Medal to Constantino
Brumidi.
I'm so pleased to join 307 of my colleagues here in this legislative
body. We were led so well by our colleague and good friend,
Representative Pascrell. And we acknowledge the hard work of
Congressman Pascrell and also the Hellenic Caucus and the Italian-
American Caucus in getting the necessary cosponsors.
Brumidi was the son of a Greek father and an Italian mother. He fled
Rome and immigrated to the United States in 1852. From 1868 to 1879, he
was a resident in my congressional district of New York City. And while
he was there, he painted 43 murals at St. Stephen's Church, which is in
my district, and scholars come from around the world to study his work
there, and here in the Capitol.
He is most famous, however, for his artistic achievement here in our
great Capitol. ``The Apotheosis of George Washington'' on the dome in
the Rotunda is one of the highlights of his brilliant work. He was
called the Michelangelo of the Capitol.
He worked flat on his back on wooden scaffolding through the intense
summer temperatures, and he created masterpieces throughout our
Capitol. His artwork can be found in the Chamber, the House of
Representatives Chamber, several committee rooms, the President's Room,
the Senate Reception Room, and truly throughout the corridors of our
Capitol. I am thrilled that we are recognizing such an outstanding
artist and an important contributor to the history of art and the
history of our Nation.
The Capitol building is special because of its beautiful architecture
and priceless artistic treasures. Without Brumidi's influence, tours of
the Capitol simply would not be certainly as beautiful or interesting
to Americans. He is truly deserving of the honor we are bestowing upon
him. Like many immigrants, he has brought many treasures to our
country.
I thank all my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their
important work in bringing this legislation to the floor.
Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. ACKERMAN. 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 New York (Mr. Ackerman) that the House suspend the rules
and pass the Senate bill, S. 254.
The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the
rules were suspended and the Senate bill was passed.
A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.
____________________