A Frieze for American Posterity
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A Frieze for American Posterity Brumidi’s “Frieze of American History”
description
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: - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
Transcript of 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
