THE CONSTANTINO BRUMIDI SOCIETY, Joseph N. Grano, Chair, Washington, DC

"In memory of the Artist of the U.S. Capitol

and America’s ideal immigrant-citizen,

who brought the best of Italy to the U.S.A."

RECIPIENT TO BE OF OUR NATION'S HIGHEST CIVILIAN AWARD:

The Congressional Gold Medal (July 2010)

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EXHIBIT ON PALLADIO DRAWINGS COMES TO NEW YORK IN APRIL

AND POSSIBLY WASHINGTON,D.C.

DEAR FELLOW ITALOPHILE:

See the attached forwarded message from the "The Morgan Library and Museum" in New York City for the announcement of an exhibition of rarely seen architectural drawings by Andrea Palladio, which will go on view April 2.

Italian-born Andrea Palladio (1508-1580) is considered to be the most influential architect in history. His influence spread from Italy to Europe and England and then to the future United States. American buildings built in the 17th and early 18th Centuries which are called "Georgian" and "Federal" are styles heavily under the influence of Palladio.

Our most famous example of this is The White House, a Palladian-style building, designed by Irish-born architect James Hoban in 1793. His model was, in turn, the Anglo-Palladian "Leister House" in Dublin.

There is no better example than Palladio of how Italian High Culture has spread and influenced the Western world for many centuries.

Next week, watch for my message on how you can persuade Congress to pass resolutions honoring two of Italy's brightest stars: Andrea Palladio and Galileo Galilei:

2008 was the 500th anniversary of the birth of Palladio;

2009 was the 400th anniversary of Galileo’s first use of the

telescope for astronomical observation.

Both anniversaries deserve official recognition by Congress.

For the Italophiles in the Washington, D.C. area: there is a possibility of this exhibit coming to the National Building Museum in September, if the necessary funding can be secured. This exhibit will also make stops in Pittsburgh and Milwaukee.

Thank you for your attention.

To learn more about "The Constantino Brumidi Society" see below.

Joe Grano

Tel.: 202.364.2526

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THE CONSTANTINO BRUMIDI SOCIETY, located in Washington, D.C., was organized in 2000 by a group of Italophiles and devoted students of the U.S. Capitol. The Society is dedicated to giving proper recognition to Constantino Brumidi (1805-80), “The Artist of the U.S. Capitol.”

Brumidi was born in Rome in 1805 of an Italian mother and a Greek father. He studied art and worked in Rome and at the Vatican. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1852 and spent much of the next 25 years painting in the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. and in Manhattan, in a church now called “Our Lady of the Scapular and St. Stephen” (formerly St. Stephen’s Catholic Church) on East 28th street. Brumidi also painted in St. Aloysius Church in Washington, D.C. and churches in Baltimore and Philadelphia. He died in 1880, and he was buried in an unmarked grave in Glenwood Cemetery in Washington, D.C. The present bronze and stone grave marker was put there by an act of Congress in 1951.

His most famous work of art is the monumental fresco painting in the ceiling of the dome of the Capitol called the “Apotheosis of Washington.” To learn more about Brumidi go to the Architect of the Capitol website: www.aoc.gov, key word “Brumidi.”

Through our efforts and the efforts of two national Italian American organizations (NIAF and OSIA) and a Greek American organization (AHEPA), the Congress has approved the following measures to honor and recognize Brumidi:

In 2003, Congress authorized the president to issue a proclamation

in commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the birth of

Brumidi;

In 2005, Congress held a ceremony in the Rotunda, marking the 200th

anniversary of the birth of Brumidi; and

In 2008, Congress passed a law, which President Bush signed, to

award Brumidi, posthumously, our nation’s highest civilian honor,

the Congressional Gold Medal. The bill's sponsor in the House was

Representative BILL PASCRELL, Jr. of New Jersey, Co-chair

of the Italian American Delegation to Congress. The Senate

sponsor was Senator MICHAEL B. ENZI of Wyoming. Mr. Pascrell and

Senator Enzi were responsible for getting two-thirds of each body

to become co-sponsors of the bills. THIS WAS A MONUNMENTAL TASK,

INDEED, FOR WHICH THE SOCIETY AND ALL BRUMIDI FANS WILL BE EVER

THANKFUL!

The U.S. Mint is presently designing the medal and as soon as the medal has been minted, Congress will have a ceremony in the Rotunda, beneath Brumidi’s magnificent “Apotheosis of Washington.” This ceremony will probably take place around July 26, this year, which will be Brumidi's 205th birthday.

The Society is a non-membership organization which does not solicit or accept money from outside sources _______________________________________________________________________