The United States Capitol Building is filled with symbols and architectural details that reference ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture. Italian artist Constantino Brumidi (1805–1880) created a series of murals, based on his study of Pompeian frescoes, for the Naval Affairs Committee Room (now the Senate Appropriations Conference Room) in the Capitol. For information, visit senate/brumidi. Look at the Maenad fresco on the enclosed CD. This image inspired some of Brumidi’s work. In what ways do the Pompeian images included in these materials compare to Brumidi’s images? What are reasons for referencing classical Greece and Rome in the design and decoration of United States government buildings?.
