You can now see Constantino Brumidi's Study for the Apotheosis of Washington in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol Building on the second floor of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, near the sculpture of George Washington Resigning his Commission by Ferdinand Pettrich. This was the final study that Brumidi completed before beginning work on the interior of the Capitol dome, and the painting reveals a great deal about the artist's process. Having this painting on view also allows visitors to get a closer look at the imagery around George Washington, including six vignettes that celebrate American virtues and the promise of the country's future.
We interviewed senior curator Eleanor Harvey and chief conservator Tiarna Doherty about this work to create a video that will explore the symbolism in the painting as well as highlight discoveries made during conservation.
