Washington, D. C., June 27, 1879
“In the name of God, Amen,
“I, Constantino Brumidi, of No. 921 G. Street, Washington, D. C., make this my last will.
“I give, devise and bequeath all my estate and property, real and personal, to my boy, named, called and known by the name of Laurence S. Brumidi, as follows, that is to say:
“All engravings, works of art, paintings and apparatus pertaining thereto that I now or may hereafter possess; all designs or sketches and tracings for the frieze of the Capitol of the United States and any other purpose; my gold watch and chain, bookcase, library and all objects and things in my room; all money that I have in possession, or that may be due me at the time of my demise, from the United States government or any other source.
“These things and any or all property, real and personal, that I may now have or may hereafter possess do I convey to said Laurence S. Brumidi, to be enjoyed by him, his heirs or assigns, forever, free from all claim or claims of any, every and all persons, whomsoever, claiming or to claim the same or any part thereof, by, under or through me or any of my heirs.
“I appoint Robert Mason of Washington, D. C., my executor, who shall receive no reward.”
Constantino Brumidi
This Will of Constantino Brumidi was brought to light in Washington in 1919 when a lengthy article appeared in the Washington Sunday Star of November 2, entitled:
“Brumidi Paintings Found in Washington
After a Search of Forty Years.”
It seems that in 1919, The National Savings and Trust Company, on New York Avenue, about a block from the White House, found in their storage vault two large boxes containing twenty-four Brumidi paintings including a sketch of the Dome canopy—a circular canvas upon which was painted the design for the ceiling of the Dome. When and by whom these boxes were stored will probably never be known but it is entirely possible that they were packed away in the early years after having been willed to Laurence Brumidi.