Today we honor Constantino Brumidi, the Italian-born artist whose remarkable talent helped shape the visual beauty of the United States Capitol.
Born in Rome in 1805, Brumidi trained as a painter and mastered the classical traditions of fresco, portraiture, and decorative art. After immigrating to the United States, he brought that artistic inheritance to the heart of American civic life.
Brumidi became known as the “Artist of the Capitol” for his extraordinary work throughout the U.S. Capitol building, including the magnificent fresco The Apotheosis of Washington inside the Capitol Rotunda.
His art blended Italian technique with American ideals, creating images that celebrated liberty, history, civic duty, and the promise of the new Republic. His work remains one of the most visible Italian contributions to American public art.
As America celebrates its 250th Anniversary, we proudly recognize Giuseppe Verdi for the timeless gift of music, the enduring spirit of Italian culture, and the universal language of artistic excellence.