Frescoing Of The Canopy Of The Dome Of The Capitol

Tho Washington Chronicle gives the foHoiving account of the fresco'üg ol the canopy of the dome of the Capitol: Probably very few of the thousamis of persons who have walked through the rotunda of the Capitol of tho United States, since the month of Maroh last. and alter the immense scaffclding had been removed from the center of that spacious and historio hall, are aware that immcdiately over their lieads, at th feariul height of one hundred and six ty five feet, euppórted by a rudo aru ttmporary, though very substantial plat form, an artist has been closoly engngec i'o frescoing the canopy of the dome from a design which he furnished some three years since, and which was approved by the Congressional Gommittee and th6 late Beeretary of the Interior, Hon. Caleb B. Smith. So closely ha9 lie pursued bis vvork, that a considerable portion of it is finished, altbough the whoie will not be completed on aocnunt of the appropriation for the dome haviug been expended, until some time n,ext spring. When the platform shall hae been removed, the rude boards and heavy scantling taken away, and the passer by shall be allowed an unobstructed visión to the very eye of the dome, we feel well assured, froin what we saw yesterday, although in an unfiuished condition, that thé effect will be surpassingly beautiful, and that the oanopy of tbe dome of the Capítol will bc unanimously pronounced one of the mout superb epecimens of freseoing in the United States, and a proper adornment to what is aoknowledged to be the greatest building in the world. Constantine Brumidi, the designer and nrtist, who lias been engaged for twenty yoars in decorating the Capítol, who has reccntly painted the Cathedral of St. Peter and St. Paul, in Logan Square, Philadelphia, and whose altar piece, reprepenting tho crucifixion, has been so much adrnired, claims that he executed he first real fresco work in the United States. He has entered into bis pres ent task with a spirit and a determinadon to make the canopy of the dome every way worthy of his own repiitation, and the celebrated and hiahly cherished )üildiug of which it forms the crowning )iece. The design is appropriate and jeautiful, and, w-aen completed, it will commaud the admiration of the most critical. The paÏDting covers a space of six housand square feet. The canopy at ts base is eigbty-fonr feet in circumference, and forms almost half a globe. Sixty-three pictures, which will appear as life-size from the floor of the rotunda, are conta'.nod in the picture, akhnugh many oí them, íd order to produce tliis ctfect, are coloasal in their dimensions, and vary from twelve to seventeen feet n height. The centre piece consista irst of a portrait of Washington, in a itting posture. To hs right s seated be Goddess of Liberty, and on tlie lcft female figure representing Victory and ''ame proclaiming freedom. Iu a serniirc'e ís a group of females, representng the thirteen original colonies, bearing loft a banner on which is inscribed ae words, JE. Plurilm Unum. Surounding this under circle, near the ase of the design, are six artistic roups, representing War, Agriculture, Mechanica, Commerce, the Navy, and cience. Two of these groups oniy are ow finished - War and 8e:ence - al íough Agriculture, Mechauios and Jommcrce ure well advanced, and tlu: Nravy is rudely pketched on the fresh tnortar. In the group representing Var, America, in the shape of the Gudess of Liberty, tauds erect, beuring íd ne hand a shield, and in the other a word. At her side is the American agle; beneath her feet are stulwart men; some with the toroh of the ineendiary in their hands, otl'ers crouched bv the side of the cannon. She treads on an ermine-bordered robe, and the whule is intended to be typical of the downfall of tyranny. The next group is the Arts and Sciences, pregided over by the Goddess Minerva. Pranklin aud Fulton aio prominent figures in this group. Various emblema of our advanceinents in the arts and sciences are seen in this picture. Then we have the Navy - Father Neptune rides in bis chariot, biíaring iu bis hand hia trident : Venus, the Goddfgs of Love, is just emerging from the briny deep, with the accoinpauying cupids, and a cable of wire illustrates our endeavors to hiy th Atlantic telegruph. Next comes Comuoerco, with ships u the dirttance, cargóos of bales and boses rinloading, and seitted calmly in the midst of the busy scène is Morris, the groat American financier, in the davs of Wnshington. Then we have Mechaniös - Vulcan stands at his forgo, preparing his thundorbolts ; caniioD, mortare, ball and shell around ; and in the background we have the hteaai engiue. Agriculture forma the sixth and last group. Ceres reigns here, attended l3' her handmaiden.s, j Flora and Pcmoua. Ceres rides triuinphantly, not on a chariot, but op a reaping and mowing machine, with noble steeds attached, led by Young America. Flora and Pomona are laden with the treasures of the eártfe. This completes the series. Thero are ia all sixty-three figures, many of thèrn, as we said bef'ore, colosual in iheir dimensions. The faces of these figures are very ex pressive, and the porlraits of Washington, Franklic and Fulton aro admirable copies of vThat we havo been taught to regard as faithful likenesses of these great men. The diapery of the female tigures 8 well executed, and when viewed from the proper distance, the picture cannot fail to give satisfaction. Fresco painting, in order to be durable and to produce the proper effect, must be dooe while the mortar is fresh and wet. In muny instauces persons use oil in painting upon the walls what is properly oonsidered fresco work. tiotis a the ruins of Pompen, however. frequently disclose od the walls work thut has been put there thousands of years ago as fresh, as beautiful, and as higlily colored as the day upon wliioli t was eompleted. Tlie great secret of thia durability consista, as we learn, oí usiog nothing but mineral paiots - no oil is required. Tho dome oí' St. Piiul's Cathedral, at lióme, is fruscoed. The di une of the Pantheon, at Paria, is paiuted ia oil. On account of the rieüecet-sity of rapidly driving in the mineral paints, the coating of mortar must be put on itnmedintely before tb e paint is applied ; and colors thus put on, which appear eufficiently light or dark at the time, have to be repleniahed the next cay on account of their. abserption. ]3ut after tne colors are ouce fixed, they are supposed to be muoh more durable thaa those in whioh oil is used.