Chapter C: Brumidi

It seems reasonably certain that the Architect of the Capitol and other friends of Brumidi in the Congress of the United States at the time of Brumidi’s death wanted the old artist to have every dollar due him for the Capitol decorations, even to the extent of using the $200--apparently earlier appropriated for Dome scaffolding construction--to defray funeral expenses. Then, too, there is one voucher in the Brumidi voucher collection, dated February 19, 1880, the day the artist died, “for 13 days’ services as artist at $10.00--$130.00.” This voucher is not endorsed.

It is evidently true, also, that Brumidi died poor. In the following letter to Architect Clark, dated only five months before his death, and only two days before he fell from the frieze scaffolding we have the picture of a lonely artist facing lean years with fear--and a bit of remorse:

Washington, D. C., September 29, 1879

“I received the visit of Dr. Taylor and I hope to obtain much
benefit by his prescription; but my sickness proceeds more by the
mental than physical weakness, because my mind is much worried by
the terrible future prospect of starvation as soon as my bad health
prevents me to do the daily work, having saved nothing in the past
when the fortune provided me with very profitable works.

Probably you know that when the superintendent Meigs was promoted
as Quartermaster General the Senator Foot, President pro tempore of
the Senate, put my name in the roll of the employee and was
continuing to work, and the decorations of the basement corridor of
the Senate was made in that time at the roll pay.

Now, sickly and old, with 26 years’ service as an artist in the
Capitol, I ask the comfort to be replaced in the roll as a reward
for my work and gain again the tranquility of the mind.”