The Man This bronze medal, a duplicate of the Congressional Gold Medal awarded posthumously to Constantino Brumidi (1805-1880), recognizes and honors his contributions to our Nation as a designer of murals in the U.S. Capitol Building. His many accomplishments included:

• Designing and painting murals in the House and Senate wings of the Capitol between 1855 and 1880
• Creating murals in the Senate Reception Room, the President’s Room, the Senate Appropriations Committee Rooms and the Brumidi Corridors
• Painting his masterpiece, "The Apotheosis of Washington," in the eye of the Capitol dome and the Frieze of American History around its base
• Creating the first tribute to a black American in the Capitol Building with the figure of Crispus Attucks, the focal point off his fresco of the Boston Massacre

Brumidi was born in Rome of a Greek father and Italian mother. He came to the U.S. in 1852 and became a citizen in 1857. His life and work exemplify the lives of millions of immigrants who came to this country to pursue the American dream.

The Medal The obverse (heads side), designed and sculpted by United States Mint Sculptor-Engraver Don Everhart, depicts a portrait of Constantino Brumidi within a decorative border based on his designs. CONSTANTINO BRUMIDI is inscribed along the inner circle.

The reverse (tails), also designed and sculpted by Everhart, features the central portion of Brumidi’s "The Apotheosis of Washington," with the inscription ARTIST of the CAPITOL in the center of the design and 2008 ACT OF CONGRESS along the lower rim.