(Jul. 12) – The United States Congress awarded a posthumous Gold Medal to Italian artist Costantino Brumidi. The ceremony has been held on Capitol Hill at the presence of Representatives William Pascrell and Patrick Tiberi and Senators Michael Enzi and Patrick Leahy. The Congressional Gold Medal is the highest civilian award bestowed by Congress and will be put on display in the Capitol Visitor Center’s Exhibition Hall. It represents Brumidi’s extraordinary artistic contribution to the symbolism and beauty of the United States, starting from the dome where he painted his masterpiece, the “Apotheosis of George Washington”. The Ambassador of Italy to the United States, Claudio Bisogniero, attended the ceremony and also hosted a reception at his Residence in honor of the Italian American Congressional Delegation, whose members – together with the Italian-American organizations present in the US – were behind the initiative that led to Brumidi being honored. (Red)
