Chronology of Constantino Brumidi’s Life and Work

(COMPILEDWITHJULIEA. ARONSON) Note: Events in italics are provided for context

1805 July 26.Born in , , the only sur- Vatican Palace, under the supervision of Ca- viving child of Stauro Brumidi of Greece and muccini and Filippo Agricola. Anna Maria Bianchini of Rome, owners of a Paints frescoes in the neogothic family chapel coffee shop at number 26, Via Tor de’ Conti. designed by G.B. Caretti on the third floor c. 1818 Begins a fourteen-year study of art at Accad- of the Palazzo , . Also emia di San Luca (Academy of St. Luke), paints Roman stories in the galleries on the headed by . Studies sculp- second floor. ture with Bertel Thorwaldsen and painting 1841 Construction of the theater of the Villa Tor- with . lonia begins. 1821–1823Wins prizes at the academy, including a fifth 1842 January 19.Birth of his son, Giuseppe An- prize for his copy of a sculpture of Apollo, a tonio Raffaello Brumidi. second prize for his copy of a painting of a March. Work on the Third Loggia com- cupid by Gaspare Landi (former teacher at pleted. the academy), and a commendation for his copy of a painting by Landi. Signs a student September. Commissioned to decorate a new petition to have life models. building, presumably the theater, in the Villa Torlonia, . 1829 April 25.Death of his father. 1844/1845Signs and dates two scenes in the theater of 1832 June 30.Marries Maria Covaluzzi, a widow, the Villa Torlonia. Was probably in charge of age 35. all of the extensive mural decoration. August 15.Birth of his daughter, Maria Elena Brumidi (known as Elena). 1846 Pope Pius IX takes office and introduces demo- cratic reforms. 1836 Begins work for the Torlonia family. For Proposes a new avenue from the Quirinale, Alessandro Torlonia in the , the pope’s palace, to the Vatican, with a Piazza Venezia, he paints a frieze with the monumental bridge and a triumphal arch in glory of Constantine and the family coat of honor of Pope Pius IX. At an unknown date, arms in the throne room.For Marino Tor- works in the Quirinale. lonia, decorates a neogothic chapel in the park of the Villa de at an unknown date. 1847 March.Creates a lithograph honoring the 1837 August.Death of his mother. pope. July 5. Civic guard of citizens aged twenty-one Commissioned to create a sculpture for the to sixty authorized by the pope. Weld-Clifford Chapel in church of San Mar- cello al Corso; chapel dedicated in 1842. Serves as a captain in the civic guard. December. Petitions the pope to be named 1838 June.Death of his wife. assistant to Agricola, the inspector of public October 17.Marries Anna Rovelli, age 16. paintings in Rome. Request denied because 1840 With Domenico Tojetti, restores the the position did not exist. eleventh bay and the end wall dedicated to Paints portrait of Pope Pius IX, of which he Pope Gregory XVI in the third Loggia of the makes a number of copies. 238 CHRONOLOGYOFCONSTANTINOBRUMIDI’SLIFEANDWORK 1848–1850Paints fifteen oil portrait studies of early October/November.Requests permission popes as models for the frieze of St. Paul’s from the Secretary of State and the French Outside the Walls (executed in mosaic be- general to leave for the United States. tween 1851 and 1872). December.Trial on charges stemming from 1848 May 11.Requests appointment to the posi- revolutionary activities. Found guilty in spite tion of assistant superintendent of sacred of supporting testimony. apostolic palaces; request supported by the 1852 January 2.Sentenced to eighteen years in pope but not granted. prison. September.Tries to resign from the civic January 31.Sentence reduced by two- guard. thirds. November 15.Pope flees Rome after assassina- March 21.Released from prison after par- tion of prime minister Pellegrino Rossi. don by the pope. 1849 February 9.Declaration of the Roman Repub- September 18.Arrives in New York City. lic, followed by the election of a triumvirate. November 29.Files document of intent to April 12.French troops land at Civitavecchia, become a United States citizen in Court of preparing to attack Rome. Common Pleas, New York City. May 3.As a captain of the civic guard, re- Signs and dates portrait of Emery Bemis of moves articles for safekeeping when ordered Boston and Cambridge, Massachusetts. to seize the Monastery of S. Francesca Ro- 1853 March 23.President Franklin Pierce transfers mana and others to house troops. jurisdiction over the Capitol from the Depart- June 4.French troops enter Rome. ment of the Interior to the Department of War, July 17.Applies to the for headed by Jefferson Davis. a position. March 29.Montgomery C. Meigs appointed 1850 April 12.Pope restored to power by French Supervising Engineer of the Capitol Extension. troops. Cardinal named Signs and dates portrait of Eveline F. Free- Secretary of State. man of Massachusetts and tondo Progressfor Paints frescoes in the Church of the the Bennitt family of New York. Madonna dell’ Archetto (dedicated May 31, 1854 May 5.In Mexico City, painting a Holy 1851). Trinity for the Cathedral. Has a studio in the parish of S. Maria de’ November.Meigs tries to persuade Emmerich Monti. Carstens to come from New York to be foreman In contact with John Hughes, archbishop of of decorative painters. New York, and American priest John Norris December 12.Leaves Mexico for New Or- about decoration of St. Stephen’s Church. leans in the company of “Mary Brumidi” and 1851 February 4.Arrested and imprisoned in bronze worker Federico Casali. connection with revolutionary activities. December 28.At the Capitol in Washing- February 22.Pleads innocent to accusations ton, D.C., is introduced to Meigs, who sug- of stealing church property. gests he paint a sample fresco in a lunette in June 4.Asks to leave for the United States his office, intended for the House Commit- to decorate churches as planned before ar- tee on Agriculture (H–144). rest. Is moved to a harsher prison and suffers 1855 January.Living at 308 Delaware Avenue ill health. [N.E.], between B and C streets, near the June 11.Thomas U. Walter appointed Archi- Capitol. tect of the Capitol. Edward Clark comes to January 29.Exhibits paintings in Mexico Washington, D.C., to be his assistant. City. July 4.Cornerstone for the Capitol Exten- February 3.Congress appropriates $100,000 sion laid. for a new dome for the Capitol. 239 February 19.Having prepared an oil sketch to design the House Chamber ceiling and and cartoon, begins to paint the fresco of Senate desks and chairs. Cincinnatus (H–144). March 7.Newly inaugurated President James Completes a color sketch for Martyrdom of Buchanan appoints John B. Floyd Secretary of St. Stephenfor St. Stephen’s Church in New War. York City. March 27.Requested by Meigs to design March 17.Finishes Cincinnatus fresco. railings for the private staircases. March 20.Secretary of War Jefferson Davis April 3. Pay raised to $10.00 per day. inspects the fresco and authorizes Meigs to July. Death of his friend Frederick Casali, employ Brumidi at $8.00 per day to con- head of the Capitol bronze foundry. tinue work and to pay him retroactively. October-December. Paints Cornwallis Sues March 30. Has finished sketch representing for Cessation of Hostilitiesin House Chamber the Four Seasons and begins working on and signs it: “C Brumidi Artist Citizen of the cartoons. U.S.” November 9.Has completed the ceiling and November 12.Files final pa- all but the Putnam lunette (H–144). pers in U.S. Circuit Court, District of Co- December.American Party (Know Nothings) lumbia. at its height in the 34th Congress. December 16. House of Representatives meets in new hall. Submits proposal in French listing subjects for the Senate Reception Room. 1858 Living at 63 Indiana Avenue [N.W.]. 1856 April 1.Has completed frescoes in Agricul- Completes one lunette and one corner group ture Committee Room (H–144). in Senate Post Office (S–211) and two of five lunettes in room of Senate Committee on July 28.Submits three sketches for paintings Military Affairs (S–128). in the Senate Reception Room (S–213). Decorative painting ongoing in first-floor August 6. Meigs approves design for the Senate corridors. Ladies Waiting Room (S–313A) [not exe- March 20. Memorial to Congress requesting cuted]. the foundation of an art commission is drafted August 20. Meigs approves the sketch for and signed by 127 artists at National Art As- the room of the Committee on Naval Affairs sociation convention. (S–127). April.Conflict with Johannes Oertel over October.First article criticizing use of foreign the painting of the Senate Library (S–211). artists at the Capitol appears in The Crayon. April 30.Appropriations for Capitol construc- By November.Work in the Naval Affairs tion expired and workers discharged. Committee Room (S–127) in progress. May 19.Proposed amendment to the Capitol November.Washington Art Association appropriation specifies that a committee of founded by Horatio Stone. three artists appointed by the president recom- December 4.Installs oil-on-canvas altarpiece mend designs for approval by the Joint Com- in St. Ignatius Church in . mittee on the Library. December. ExhibitsHoly Trinityin Mexico May 28. Jefferson Davis defends Meigs and City. Brumidi’s decoration during debate in Senate. Signs and dates Martyrdom of St. Stephenfor May 31. Memorial of artists presented to the St. Stephen’s Church, New York City. House, which forms a select committee of five members to consider it. 1857 Dispute begins between Walter and Meigs over June 12. Civil Appropriation Bill passed, with the superintendency of the architecture and the a provision that no expenditures for sculpture decoration in the Capitol. or paintings could be made without the ap- February 16.Submits designs for the pro- proval of the committee of three artists and the posed Senate Library (S–211); is requested Joint Committee on the Library, with the ex- 240 CHRONOLOGYOFCONSTANTINOBRUMIDI’SLIFEANDWORK ception of the work in progress by Crawford March.Carstens sworn in as “Foreman of and Rogers. Ornamental Painting.” By November 15. Completes frescoes in the April 12. The Civil War begins. Troops sta- spandrels of the southern domed section of tioned at the Capitol from April 18 through the Senate Reception Room (S–213). May. December.Clashes with Emmerich Carstens, May 12.Birth of his son, Laurence Stauros foreman of decorative painters, over superin- Brumidi. tendence of workers. May 15.Work on the Capitol extensions sus- 1859 March3.Signs sketch depicting scenes of pended, although ironwork on dome continued. American history for a fresco in illusionistic June 13.Meigs appointed Quartermaster sculptural relief for the Rotunda frieze. General of the Army. “American Artists,” report of House select August-December. Paid out of Senate Con- committee, recommends formation of art com- tingent Fund, along with the assistants, for mission. decorating Senate corridors and repairing other decoration in Senate wing. March 17. Carstens dismissed by Secretary of War. 1862 Living at 128 Second Street West [N.W.]. May 15.Art Commission appointed by the April 16.Jurisdiction over Capitol shifted President; members are Henry Kirke Brown, from War Department to Interior Depart- James R. Lambdin, and John F. Kennsett. ment under Caleb B. Smith. June 6.Pays for the burial of Clara Scarselli April 30. Work on extensions resumed. Brumidi, age 36, born in Rome. May. Signs and dates a proposal for an ele- June 15.First meeting of the Art Commission. vated railroad on Broadway in New York October. Meigs reports that decorative City. painting in the first-floor Senate corridor is August 18.Walter requests a design for the almost complete. canopy fresco. October 3. Altarpiece installed at St. Aloy- August 31.Capitol used as a hospital for sius Church in Washington. troops through October. November 1.Meigs relieved of duty and re- September 8. Submits a design with the de- placed by William B. Franklin. scription of the Apotheosis ofWashingtonand requests $50,000. December 1.Work on the Capitol suspended except for some painting in the corridors. October.Estimates cost of completing rooms in the Capitol. In at end December 9. Date inscribed on Thomas of the month. U. Walter’s drawing of section of new dome, which includes a canopy for a fresco December 17.Agrees to accept $40,000 for by Brumidi. the canopy fresco. 1860 Listed in census as living at 485 D Street 1863 January 3. Proposal for the canopy fresco North [N.E.] with eighteen-year-old English accepted for $40,000. woman, undoubtedly Lola Germon. February-May.Decorating Walter’s new house in Germantown, , with Signs and dates murals in the President’s several assistants from the Capitol. Room (S–216). March 11. Notified to proceed with the car- February 22. Art Commission submits a re- toons for the canopy in real fresco. port highly critical of foreign treatment of the Capitol decoration. March 30. Carpenters finish wooden model of Rotunds canopy made to assist Brumidi in June 20. Art Commission abolished. preparing cartoons. July 1.Work on the Capitol resumes. May 16.Draws figures of Vulcan and Ceres 1861 February 27. Meigs ordered by Secretary of for the clock designed by Walter for the Sen- War to resume charge of the Capitol Extension. ate Chamber. 241 May. Contract questioned by Secretary of July. In Philadelphia through September. Interior I. P. Usher; Brumidi ordered to sus- November 19. Secretary of Interior seeks pend operations. congressional authorization for frieze. July 7. Secretary of Interior agrees to re- 1867 January.In Havana, Cuba. sumption of work on the canopy fresco. March 29. Has returned to Washington and November 6. Completes cartoons for the is working in the Capitol. canopy for a payment of $10,000 total; pay By November 1.Ceiling of Senate Post Of- suspended until construction of the dome is fice (S–211) completed. further advanced. 1868 No work at the Capitol documented. 1864 Decorates the Cathedral of SS. Peter and Paul in Philadelphia with frescoes and murals. Signs and dates monumental crucifixion mural and Assumption of the Virginin St. November.Lola Brumidi purchases house at Stephen’s Church, New York City. 128 Second Street West [N.W.], where they live together until 1870. 1869 Paints Libertyand Unionin oil on canvas for December 3. Ironwork of the canopy com- the entrance hall of the White House. plete and ready for fresco. By November. Adds four frescoes to Senate Paints in fresco in the Sergeant-at-Arms Room Reception Room (S–213). (S–212); central ceiling panel remains unfilled. 1870 Takes mortgage on house at 128 2nd Street, 1865 May 16. Walter notes completion of the N.W.; Lola Brumidi living at 326 A Street, S.E. center group of the canopy fresco and the June.In New York. Sends designs for commencement of Science group. lunettes of the Senate Reception Room May 26.Walter resigns, three days after being (S–213). Says he will be in Washington in placed under the Commissioner of Public July. Buildings. November 22. Paid for painting chiaroscuro figures on south wall of Senate Reception July 15.Appropriation for the dome ex- Room (S–213). hausted, but Brumidi continues to work. August. Sends painting The Five Sensesto 1871 April.In New York working at St. Stephen’s Walter’s family. Church. August 30.Edward Clark appointed Archi- October 19. Paid for three frescoes of the tect of the Capitol Extension and New Dome. American Revolution to complete decoration of Senate Military Affairs Committee Room September 3.Meigs asks that his portrait be (S–128). removed from the Commerce group in the canopy fresco. Nov. 23.Paid for painting chiaroscuro fig- ures in the three lunettes in the Senate Re- September. Painting last group on the canopy; ception Room (S–213); spaces designated for fresco is signed and dated 1865. Expresses portraits remain vacant. concern about the junctures between the sec- tions of plaster. Clark recommends payment. Visited by his daughter Elena, who lives in Rome. October. In Philadelphia. 1872 August-September. In New York working at 1866 January 9. Scaffolding for canopy fresco dis- St. Stephen’s Church. mantled during the following week. June 9. Paid balance of the contract price, 1873 May 26.Paid for mural of Washington, Hamilton, and Jefferson on south wall of subtracting $500, to be paid when joints be- Senate Reception Room (S–213). tween the giornate are toned and blended. September.Working in dining room of Sen- July.Prepares estimates after Chairman of ator Justin Morrill’s house. the Senate Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds requests that unfinished rooms November 28.Paid for Robert Fulton (S–211, 212, and 213) be completed. Ed- fresco in lunette in the Patent Corridor, first ward Clark objects to higher prices. floor of Senate wing. 242 CHRONOLOGYOFCONSTANTINOBRUMIDI’SLIFEANDWORK Signs and dates Crucifixionfor Academy of Chancellor Robert Livingston in Senate wing Mount Saint Vincent, Riverdale, New York. north entrance. 1874 June 21.Paid for four monochrome profile September. Scaffold for the frieze being ad- portrait medallions in Senate Committee on justed. Begins the Pocahontas cartoon. Foreign Affairs Room (S–118). Plagued by health problems, possibly hospi- August.Lives temporarily at Marini Hall talized. (914–916 E Street), where he works on car- Begins being hoisted up daily to frieze by a toons. Has “rheumatic attack” in his knees, cage on a pulley. affecting his ability to walk. By October 15.Has completed cartoons for By November 1.Has completed fresco the DeSoto segment of the frieze and is con- Signing of the First Treaty of Peace with Great tinuing work on Pocahontas cartoon. Britainin corridor outsideCommittee on December 27. Asks to suspend work on the Foreign Affairs Room (S–118). frieze during cold weather. Thanksgiving.Hospitalized, possibly for Paints The Apparition of our Lord to St. Mar- rheumatism. garet Maryfor the Visitation Convent, Wash- 1875 May. Asked to make portraits for library of ington, D.C. Senator Justin S. Morrill’s house. 1879 Living at 911 G Street, N.W., with his son By November 1.Completes two frescoes in Laurence. The former Lola Brumidi, now Senate first-floor corridors: The Cession of Mrs. Walsh, purchases the house at 921 G Louisianaoutside the Committee on Territo- ries Room (S–124), and Bellonaoutside the Street, N.W. Military Affairs Room (S–128). June 27.Files will, leaving all possessions to Also paints frescoes on ceiling of the Com- his son Laurence. mittee on the Library Room (S–129). July. Continues to work on cartoons for the Paints lunettes of Columbusand the Indian frieze, but due to asthma cannot ascend to Maiden and Authority Consults the Written the scaffold. Lawin the west corridor. Early August. In Orkney Springs, West Vir- 1876 Signs and dates the ceiling fresco Columbia ginia, on doctor’s orders, works on frieze Welcoming the South Back into the Unionin cartoons. the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms Room October 1.Nearly falls from the scaffolding (S–212). while painting the frieze, but returns to paint February. Painting the lunette Bartholomé the next day. de Las Casas(S–133) in oil in the west corri- November. Petitions to be placed back on dor, first floor of Senate wing. Petitions to be the payroll for cartoons. Works on cartoons allowed to finish uncompleted rooms. of Oglethorpe and Lexington. May. Completes lunette depicting John 1880 January.Works 27 days on cartoons for the Fitch in the Patent Corridor. frieze. 1877 March. Put back on the payroll at $10.00 February 19.Dies in his home at 921 G St., per day to paint the Rotunda frieze. N.W. Buried in Germon family plot at Glen- May. Begins work on cartoons for the frieze. wood Cemetery. 1878 Living at 911 G Street, N.W. March. Filippo Costaggini asks to succeed April.Paints first scene of frieze. Brumidi on the frieze. August 24.Paid for frescoes of Justice June. Congress divides the $500 due Brumidi Joseph Story, Chancellor James Kent, and between his children Laurence and Elena.

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