Sunday, July 10, 2011

US Capitol Bldg. - Capitol Dome ["The Apotheosis of Washington", painted by Constantino Brumidi]


"Apotheosis" in the title means the exaltation to a divine rank..

"E Pluribus Unum", is Latin for "Out of many, one"..



The Rotunda [US Capitol Bldg.]
180 feet above the Rotunda floor, is a painting by Italian American artist, Constantino Brumidi, titled, The Apotheosis of Washington. It shows George Washington surrounded by symbols of American democracy and technological progress..
Much more information on the website..Architect of Capitol [The Apotheosis of Washington], click here..


Some more details..
The central group of fresco, is surrounded by six groups of paintings on the perimeter, representing, War, Science, Marine, Commerce, Mechanics and Agriculture..

COMMERCE..
Mercury, god of commerce, with his winged cap and sandals and caduceus, hands a bag of gold to Robert Morris, financier of the Revolutionary War. On the left, men move a box on a dolly; on the right, the anchor and sailors lead into the next scene, "Marine."

MARINE..
Neptune, god of the sea, holding his trident and crowned with seaweed, rides in a shell chariot drawn by sea horses. Venus, goddess of love born from the sea, helps lay the transatlantic cable. In the background is a form of iron-clad ship with smokestacks.

MECHANICS..
Vulcan, god of the forge, stands at his anvil with his foot on a cannon, near a pile of cannon balls and with a steam engine in the background. The man at the forge is thought to represent Charles Thomas, who was in charge of the ironwork of the Capitol dome.

Reference: website..
Architect of Capitol [The Apotheosis of Washington], click here..

RELATED LINKS..

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