Constantino Brumidi, Michelangelo of the United States Capitol — Rumi — John Shaqi
Constantino Brumidi, Michelangelo of the United States Capitol
Rumi · en
Washington, D. C., September 29, 1879
“I received the visit of Dr. Taylor and I hope to obtain much
benefit by his prescription; but my sickness proceeds more by the
mental than physical weakness, because my mind is much worried by
the terrible future prospect of starvation as soon as my bad health
prevents me to do the daily work, having saved nothing in the past
when the fortune provided me with very profitable works.
Probably you know that when the superintendent Meigs was promoted
as Quartermaster General the Senator Foot, President pro tempore of
the Senate, put my name in the roll of the employee and was
continuing to work, and the decorations of the basement corridor of
the Senate was made in that time at the roll pay.
Now, sickly and old, with 26 years’ service as an artist in the
Capitol, I ask the comfort to be replaced in the roll as a reward
for my work and gain again the tranquility of the mind.”
C. BRUMIDI
Four days after the artist’s death a bill was introduced into the Senate
of the United States which read as follows:
“Be it enacted.... That the Secretary of the Interior be, and he is
hereby, directed to pay to the heirs of Constantino Brumidi, deceased,
the sum of $500, that being the amount reserved from the last voucher
paid him for painting in fresco the picture on the canopy of the Dome of
the Capitol; and also to pay to said heirs the sum of $200 to defray the
funeral expenses of said deceased; said payments to be made out of
moneys appropriated by an act approved March 3, 1879.”
Upon introducing this bill, Senator Voorhees of Indiana made the
following explanation:
“Mr. President, the reason for the introduction of this bill grows out
of the following facts: The Government made a contract with Mr. Brumidi
for the painting, in fresco, on the canopy of the Dome of the Capitol.
The scaffolding necessary to enable the artist to do his work was
furnished by the Government. When the painting was finished and the
scaffolding removed the Secretary of the Interior withheld the sum of
$500 of the contract price as a guarantee for any retouching which the
work might need after it dried out and became thoroughly seasoned to the
air. This amount was held back, to be paid to Mr. Brumidi for such
future attention on his part as the painting might be found to require.
“He was at all times in readiness to comply with the wishes of the
Government on this subject. No scaffolding, however, was ever replaced
on which to work in the Canopy of the Dome, nor was he ever called on by
the officials having this matter in charge to give his painting there
any further attention.... Both branches of Congress made the following
provision in the sundry civil act for the fiscal year ending June 30,
1880: