BRUMIDI VOUCHERS

1855

July 3, 1855—Fresco work, extension of U. S. Capitol, April 1 to June 30, 1855; 78 days @ $8 per day—$624.00

Aug. 2, 1855—Fresco work, extension U. S. Capitol, July 1 to July 31, 1855; 26 days @ $8 per day—$208.00

Nov. 30, 1855—Fresco work, extension U. S. Capitol, Aug. 1 to Nov. 30, 1855; 105 days @ $8 per day—$840.00

1856

Mar. 4, 1856—Fresco work, Agricultural Committee Room, Dec. 1, 1855, to Feb. 11, 1856; 62 days @ $8 per day—$496.00

Color and Brushes, Agricultural Com. Room; 8 paintings @ $13.50—$108.00

Fresco work, extension U. S. Capitol, Feb. 12 to Feb. 29, 1856; 16 days @ $8 per day—$128.00

June 26, 1856—Designs and cartoons, Capitol Extension, Ceiling Fresco work, March 1 to 31 May, 1856; 79 days @ $8—$632.00

1857

Jan. 9, 1857—Fresco work, extension U. S. Capitol, June 12 to Dec. 31, 1856; 183 days @ $8 per day—$1,464.00

July 6, 1857—Fresco work, extension U. S. Capitol, April 1 to June 30, 1857; 78 days @ $10 per day—$780.00

Nov. 4, 1857—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, 1857; 53 days @ $10 per day—$530.00

Dec. 4, 1857—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, 1857; 25 days @ $10 per day—$250.00

1858

Jan. 6, 1858—Painting rooms, U. S. Capitol Extension, Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, 1857; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

Feb. 3, 1858—Painting rooms, U. S. Capitol Extension, Jan. 1 to Jan. 31, 1858; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Mar. 5, 1858—Painting rooms, U. S. Capitol Extension, Feb. 1 to Feb. 28, 1858; 24 days @ $10 per day—$240.00

Mar. 31, 1858—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Mar 1 to Mar 31, 1858; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

Sept. 1, 1858—Painting rooms, U. S. Capitol Extension, Aug. 1 to Aug. 31, 1858; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Sept. 30, 1858—Painting rooms, U. S. Capitol Extension, Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 1858; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Nov. 1, 1858—Painting rooms, U. S. Capitol Extension, Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, 1858; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Dec. 1, 1858—Painting rooms, U. S. Capitol Extension, Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, 1858; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

1859

Jan. 1, 1859—For services during month of December, 1858; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

Feb. 1, 1859—For services during month of January, 1859; 27 days @ 10 per day—$270.00 (One day overpaid. Corrected in Mar. voucher)

Mar. 1, 1859—For services during month of February, 1859; 24 days @ $10 per day—$240.00

Mar. 31, 1859—For services during month of March, 1859; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00 (Less 1 day overpaid in January)—$260.00

May 1, 1859—For services during month of April, 1859; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

June 1, 1859—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, May 1 to May 31, 1859; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Aug. 1, 1859—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, July 1 to July 31, 1859; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Sept. 1, 1859—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Aug. 1 to Aug. 31, 1859; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

Oct. 1, 1859—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 1859; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Nov. 1, 1859—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, 1859; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Dec. 1, 1859—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, 1859; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

1860

Jan. 2, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, 1859; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

Feb. 1, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Jan. 1 to Jan. 31, 1860; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Mar. 1, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Feb. 1 to Feb. 29, 1860; 25 days @ $10 per day—$250.00

Apr. 6, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Mar. 1 to Mar. 31, 1860; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

May 1, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Apr. 1 to Apr. 30, 1860; 25 days @ $10 per day—$250.00

June 1, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, May 1 to May 31, 1860; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

July 2, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, June 1 to June 30, 1860; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Aug. 1, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, July 1 to July 31, 1860; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Sept. 1, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Aug. 1 to Aug 31, 1860; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

Oct. 1, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Sept. 1 to Sept. 30, 1860; 25 days @—$10 per day—$250.00

Nov. 1, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Oct. 1 to Oct. 31, 1860; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

Dec. 1, 1860—Fresco work, U. S. Capitol Extension, Nov. 1 to Nov. 30, 1860; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

1860—Vouchers Nos. 21, 12, $4,000.00 (For work on Dome Canopy cartoons)

1861

Jan. 1, 1861—For services in painting from Dec. 1 to Dec. 31, 1860; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

Feb. 1, 1861—For services in painting from Jan. 1 to Jan. 31, 1861; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

Feb. 28, 1861—For services in painting from Feb. 1 to Feb. 28, 1861; 24 days @ $10 per day—$240.00

Apr. 1, 1861—For services in painting from Mar. 1 to Mar. 31, 1861; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

May 1, 1861—For services in painting from Apr. 1 to Apr. 30, 1861; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00

June 1, 1861—For services in painting from May 1 to May 31, 1861; 27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

1863

Aug. 4, 1863—For work on Cartoons for fresco painting over the eye of the new Dome—$2,000.00

Aug. 4, 1863—For services, painting in fresco, from May 9 to June 30, 1863; 45 days @ $10 per day—$450.00. Less income tax, 45 days @ 24c per day—$10.80—$439.20

Aug. 31, 1863—For work on Cartoons for fresco painting on canopy over the eye of the New Dome—$2,000.00

Sept. 30, 1863—For work on Cartoons for fresco painting on canopy over the eye of the New Dome—$2,000.00

1864

Dec. 3, 1864—For work on Cartoons for fresco painting on canopy over the eye of the New Dome—$1,000.00

Dec. 3, 1864—For services, painting in fresco in Sergeant-at-arms room, U. S. Senate, from July 1 to July 31, 1863; 26 days @ $10 per day—$260.00. Less income tax of $10.49—$249.51

1865

Aug. 1, 1865—For work on the Fresco painting over the Eye of the New Dome, month of July—$2,000.00

Aug. 31, 1865—For work on the Fresco Painting over the Eye of the New Dome, month of August—$2,000.00

Dec. 1, 1865—For work on the Fresco Painting over the Eye of the New Dome, from Sept. 1 to date—$2,000.00. Vouchers 21, 5, 11—$2,500,00.

1866

Apr. 18, 1866—For work on the Fresco Painting over the Eye of the New Dome from Dec. 1, 1865, to Jan. 16, 1866—$2,500.00. Vouchers 1, 6, 7, 8—$8,000.00

June 9, 1866—Balance of contract price of $40,000 for Dome Canopy, less $500.00 retained until Picture is properly toned and blended—$9,500.00

1867

Nov. 20, 1867—For finishing the ceiling of the Post Office Room of the U. S. Senate, as per authority of the Secretary of the Interior, dated Aug 13, 1866, for designing and painting three panels and three corner groups of figures, all in real Fresco—$4,989.00

1870

Nov. 22, 1870—For decorating South wall of Senate Reception Room—$1,000.00

1871

May 7, 1871—For approximate estimate for painting one panel in the Room on Military Affairs of U. S. Senate—$500.00

July 8, 1871—For approximate estimate for painting one panel in the room of Military Affairs of the U. S. Senate—$250.00

July 17, 1871—For decorating one Lunette on the South wall of the Senate Reception Room—$1,000.00

Aug. 28, 1871—For approximate estimate for painting in fresco on walls and ceiling of Senate Committee Room on Military Affairs—$1,000.00

Oct. 19, 1871—For painting in fresco 3 panels in Committee Room on Military Affairs, Senate Wing, U. S. Capitol, viz: Washington at Valley Forge, Storming of Stony Point, Boston Massacre, @ $1,000 each—$3,000.00

For painting in Fresco 3 groups of children over doorways—$300.00

Nov. 23, 1871—For decorating three panels consisting of figures and medallions in the Reception Room of U. S. Senate—$2,000.00

1872

Nov. 2, 1872—For approximate estimate for painting medallion in Committee Room of Foreign Affairs of the Senate and for decorating the Senate Reception Room—$250.00

Nov. 29, 1872—For approximate estimate for painting picture of Washington, Jefferson, and Hamilton on the walls of the Senate Reception Room—$250.00

1873

May 26, 1873—For approximate estimate for painting portraits of Washington, Jefferson and Hamilton on the walls of the Senate Reception Room—$500.00

Nov. 28, 1873—For painting in Fresco the picture of Robert Fulton in the Senate Wing, in passage in front of the room of Committee on Patents—$500.00

1874

June 21, 1874—For painting four medallion portraits in the Committee Room of Foreign Affairs, U. S. Senate, @ $50 each—$200.00

Nov. 11, 1874—For painting in Fresco over the entrance of the room of the Committee of Foreign Affairs, the picture of the Signing of the First Treaty with Great Britain—$600.00

Painting a medallion bust in the same room—$50.00

1877

TIME BOOK ENTRIES

March1877—12½ days @ $10 per day—$125.00
April1877—12½ days @ $10 per day—$125.00
May1877—15½ days @ $10 per day—$155.00
June1877—13 days @ $10 per day—$130.00
July1877—25 days @ $10 per day—$250.00
Aug.1877—27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00
Sept.1877—25 days @ $10 per day—$250.00
Oct.1877—27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00
Nov.1877—25 days @ $10 per day—$250.00
Dec.1877—13 days @ $10 per day—$130.00

1878

TIME BOOK ENTRIES

Jan.1878—13½days @ $10 per day—$135.00
Feb.1878—12days @ $10 per day—$120.00
Mar.1878—13days @ $10 per day—$130.00
Apr.1878—26days @ $10 per day—$260.00
May1878—27days @ $10 per day—$270.00
June1878—25days @ $10 per day—$250.00
July1878—26days @ $10 per day—$260.00
Aug.1878—27days @ $10 per day—$270.00
Sept.1878—25days @ $10 per day—$250.00
Oct.1878—16½days @ $10 per day—$165.00
Nov.1878—26days @ $10 per day—$260.00
Dec.1878—25days @ $10 per day—$250.00

Aug. 24, 1878—For painting in Fresco the portraits of Justice Story, Chancellor Kent, at North end of Basement story—$400.00

For painting Bust in light and shade of Chancellor Livingston at same location—$100.00

1879

TIME BOOK ENTRIES

Jan.1879—27 days @ $10 perday—$270.00
Feb.1879—24 days @ $10 perday—$240.00
Mar.1879—26 days @ $10 perday—$260.00
Apr.1879—26 days @ $10 perday—$260.00
May1879—26 days @ $10 perday—$260.00
June1879—25 days @ $10 perday—$250.00
July1879—26 days @ $10 perday—$260.00
Aug.1879—24 days @ $10 perday—$240.00
Sept.1879—26 days @ $10 perday—$260.00
Oct.1879—27 days @ $10 perday—$270.00
Nov.1879—25 days @ $10 perday—$250.00
Dec.1879—26 days @ $10 perday—$260.00

1880

TIME BOOK ENTRY

Jan. 1880—27 days @ $10 per day—$270.00

BRUMIDI EARNINGS BY YEARS

1855$ 1,672.00
18561,364.00
18573,024.00
18582,080.00
18592,870.00
18607,140.00
18611,560.00
18636,439.20
18641,249.51
18658,500.00
186620,000.00
18674,989.00
18701,000.00
18718,050.00
1872500.00
18731,000.00
1874850.00
18771,955.00
18783,120.00
18793,080.00
1880270.00
Grand Total $80,712.71

WORKING SKETCHES FOR THE ROTUNDA FRIEZE RECENTLY FOUND

The availability of the priceless scroll of working sketches for the Rotunda Frieze has been too late for detailed study at this time and almost too late for a place in this Brumidi book. However, the sketch of the Landing of the Pilgrims reproduced above gives the reader an opportunity to make his own comparisons between one working sketch and its actual rendition in fresco on the belt encircling the Rotunda of the Capitol, as appears on page forty-four.

James H. Rowe, grandnephew of Lola Germon, owns these working sketches for the Rotunda Frieze. The groupings, as planned by Brumidi and sketched on a long and narrow piece of brown wrapping paper, frequently spliced, bears the Brumidi signature and is dated 1859. This prize scroll, thirteen inches wide and some thirty feet long, was given to Mr. Rowe by his grand aunt, Lola Germon. It has been well protected.

The outline drawings themselves are executed in sepia water color with shadows in black and high lights in white. The original titles given to these scroll groupings and written by Brumidi in pencil beneath each sketch vary somewhat from the list preserved in the Architect’s office of the Capitol, yet the subject matter is essentially the same. Brumidi’s title for this “vast conception,” so far as I know, appears in no other record.

At the beginning of the scroll is the artist’s own penciled legend for the Rotunda Frieze, “America and History.”

THIS STUDY OF “Constantino Brumidi, MICHELANGELO OF THE
UNITED STATES CAPITOL,” WAS PUBLISHED BY THE MONUMENTAL
PRESS, INC., WASHINGTON, D. C., DECEMBER 1950.