Artist-Citizen: The Story Behind the Murals in our Nation's Capitol Building

Today's New York Times has a fascinating article on Constantino Brumidi, the artist whose Pompeian style decorative art and Renaissance style murals contribute so impressively to the neo-classical grandeur of the United States Capitol building.

The picture above is a detail of Brumidi's masterpiece "The Apotheosis of Washington" on the canopy of the Capitol Rotunda.  As someone who has seen a lot of fresco murals on domes, it was interesting for me to see George Washington and other early American patriots amongst the cast of "characters in clouds".  Normally, murals in this style are populated exclusively with angels, cherubs, Greeks and Romans, so running into George Washington is kind of like seeing cotton candy at a fine French Patisserie - unexpected, but fun.

From Brumidi's early success in Italy, to his exile following the Catholic Church's accusations that he had stolen artworks, to his immigrant success story of painting much of the artwork in our nation's Capitol, till his his pauper's death, it's an amazing story, and worth checking out.  Even if you get the Times, check out the online link for the additional photos posted in 'slide show' format.