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A Frieze for American Posterity

Brumidi’s “Frieze of American History”. A Frieze for American Posterity. 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:

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A Frieze for American Posterity

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  1. Brumidi’s “Frieze of American History” A Frieze for American Posterity

  2. What is a “Frieze”?

  3. 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

  4. The “Frieze of American History”

  5. 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

  6. The Particulars • Sits on a belt below the Capitol Rotunda dome • First worked on by Brumidi • After Brumidi’s death: FilippoCostaggini • After Costaggini’s death: Allyn Cox • Nineteen scenes spanning approximately 300 feet in circumference

  7. 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”

  8. How is it like Classical friezes? • “America and History” • First scene in frieze • Allegorical! • Cf. AraPacis “America” with Phrygian cap “History” with tablets Eagles Fasces Olive branch Indian woman+bow=untamed continent

  9. How is it like Classical art? • Natives depicted with dignity and individuality • Cf. Dying Gaul and “William Penn and the Indians”

  10. How is it like Classical art? • Idealization of the Human Body • Cf. “Naval Gun Crew in the Spanish American War” and Diskobolos

  11. How is it like Classical friezes? • Celebratory Message • Conveying events, not anecdotes • Cf. “Declaration of Independence” and Gigantomachy frieze from the Altar of Pergamon

  12. 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

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