a frieze for american posterity

A Frieze for American Posterity

Brumidi’s “Frieze of American History”

What is a “Frieze”?

What is a “Frieze”?

Horizontal band on either interior or exterior of building

On a Greek temple-- between the columns and the pediment

Typically decorated in bas (low) relief

Most famous frieze: Parthenon

“Panathenaic” frieze

The “Frieze of American History”

The Technique

Intended to be bas relief However—painted in sepia grisaille technique

True fresco, trompe l’oeil to resemble stone Fresco used in then-contemporaneous Baroque

period

The Particulars Sits on a belt below the

Capitol Rotunda dome First worked on by

Brumidi After Brumidi’s death:

Filippo Costaggini After Costaggini’s death:

Allyn Cox Nineteen scenes

spanning approximately 300 feet in circumference

The Scenes Brumidi: : “America and History”, “Landing of

Columbus”, “Cortex and Montezuma at Mexican Temple”, “Pizarro Going to Peru”, “Burial of DeSoto”, “Captain Smith and Pocahontas”, “Landing of the Pilgrims”, and “William Penn and the Indians”

Costaggini: “Colonization of New England”, “Oglethorpe and the Indians”, “Battle of Lexington”, “Declaration of Independence”, “Surrender of Cornwallis”, “Death of Tecumseh”, “American Army Entering the City of Mexico”, and “Discovery of Gold in California”

Cox: “Peace at the End of the Civil War”, “Naval Gun Crew in the Spanish-American War”, and “The Birth of Aviation”

How is it like Classical friezes?

“America and History” First scene in frieze Allegorical!▪ Cf. Ara Pacis

“America” with Phrygian cap

Indian woman+bow=untamed continent

“History” with tablets

Fasces

Eagles

Olive branch

How is it like Classical art?

Natives depicted with dignity and individuality Cf. Dying Gaul and “William Penn and

the Indians”

How is it like Classical art?

Idealization of the Human Body Cf. “Naval Gun Crew in the Spanish

American War” and Diskobolos

How is it like Classical friezes? Celebratory Message

Conveying events, not anecdotes Cf. “Declaration of Independence” and

Gigantomachy frieze from the Altar of Pergamon

How is it different? Medium

True fresco in sepia grisaille creating a trompe l’oeil effect▪ Resembles Classical stone friezes

Events American and not Classical Events▪ Attributes grandeur to important American events

Many segments, not continuous narrative