The Apotheosis (Deification) of Washington in the U.S. Capitol Building Rotunda by Constantino Brumidi 1865

December 24, 2021

The Apotheosis (Deification) of Washington in the U.S. Capitol Building Rotunda by Constantino Brumidi 1865

"Feb. 1. Dr. Rush (Founding Father) tells me that he had it from Asa Green that when the clergy addressed Genl. Washington on his departure from the govmt, it was observed in their consultation that he had never on any occasion said a word to the public which shewed a belief in the Xn. religion and he thot they should so pen their address as to force him at length to declare publicly whether he was a Christian or not. they did so. however he observed the old fox was too cunning for them. he answered every article of their address particularly except that, which he passed over without notice. Rush observes he never did say a word on the subject in any of his public papers except in his valedictory letter to the Governors of the states when he resigned his commission in the army, wherein he speaks of the benign influence of the Christian religion.

I know that Gouverneur Morris (Founding Father), who pretended to be in his secrets & believed himself to be so, has often told me that Genl. Washington believed no more of that system than he himself did."

-Thomas Jefferson, Notes on a Conversation with Benjamin Rush, 1 February 1800

"Washington never explicitly mentioned the name of Jesus Christ in private correspondence. The only mentions of Christ are in public papers, and those references are scarce."

-taken from MountVernon.org

"The fresco is suspended 180 feet above the Rotunda floor and covers an area of 4,664 square feet. The figures, up to 15 feet tall, were painted to be intelligible from close up as well as from 180 feet below. Some of the groups and figures were inspired by classical and Renaissance images, especially by those of the Italian master Raphael.

In the central group of the fresco, Brumidi depicted George Washington rising to the heavens in glory, flanked by female figures representing Liberty and Victory/Fame. A rainbow arches at his feet, and thirteen maidens symbolizing the original states flank the three central figures. (The word "apotheosis" in the title means literally the raising of a person to the rank of a God, or the glorification of a person as an ideal; George Washington was honored as a national icon in the nineteenth century.)

Six groups of figures line the perimeter of the canopy; the following list begins below the central group and proceeds clockwise:

•War, with Armed Freedom and the eagle defeating Tyranny and Kingly Power
•Science, with Minerva teaching Benjamin Franklin, Robert Fulton, and Samuel F.B. Morse
•Marine, with Neptune holding his trident and Venus holding the transatlantic cable, which was being laid at the time the fresco was painted
•Commerce, with Mercury handing a bag of money to Robert Morris, financier of the American Revolution
•Mechanics, with Vulcan at the anvil and forge, producing a cannon and a steam engine
•Agriculture, with Ceres seated on the McCormick Reaper, accompanied by America in a red liberty cap and Flora picking flowers."

-taken from aoc.gov

The Apotheosis (Deification) of Washington by Constantino Brumidi 1865. Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol.

U.S. Capitol artist Constantino Brumidi depicted George Washington rising to the heavens in glory, flanked by female figures representing Liberty and Victory/Fame. A rainbow arches at his feet. Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol.

Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol.

Opposite Washington is the banner E Pluribus Unum meaning "out of many, one". Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol.

Ceres, the Goddess of agriculture, is shown with a wreath of wheat and a cornucopia, seated on a McCormick reaper. Young America in a liberty cap holds the reins of the horses, while Flora gathers flowers in the foreground. Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol.

Mercury, God of commerce, with his winged cap and sandals and caduceus, hands a bag of gold to Robert Morris, financier of the Revolutionary War. On the left, men move a box on a dolly; on the right, the anchor and sailors lead into the next scene, "Marine. Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol.

In this scene of the Apotheosis of Washington in the U.S. Capitol Neptune, God of the sea, holding his trident and crowned with seaweed, rides in a shell chariot drawn by sea horses. Venus, Goddess of love born from the sea, helps lay the transatlantic cable. In the background is a form of iron-clad ship with smokestacks. Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol.

Vulcan, God of the forge, stands at his anvil with his foot on a cannon, near a pile of cannon balls and with a steam engine in the background. The man at the forge is thought to represent Charles Thomas, who was in charge of the ironwork of the Capitol dome. Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol.

Minerva, Goddess of wisdom and the arts of civilization, with helmet and spear, points to an electric generator creating power stored in batteries, next to a printing press, while inventors Benjamin Franklin, Samuel F. B. Morse, and Robert Fulton watch. At the left, a teacher demonstrates the use of dividers. Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol.

In this scene armored Freedom, sword raised and cape flying, with a helmet and shield reminiscent of those on the Statue of Freedom, tramples Tyranny and Kingly Power; she is assisted by a fierce eagle carrying arrows and a thunderbolt. Eagle with lightning sounds symbolically of Zeus. Photo credit: Architect of the Capitol.