Lot 373: U.S. Capitol Cartes-de-Visite and Book

U.S. Capitol Cartes-de-Visite [Bell & Hall]. "Commerce" (Mercury god of Commerce), "War" (Armored Freedom), "Agriculture" (Ceres, goddess of Agriculture), "Mechanics" (Vulcan, god of the forge), four views of the eye of the Capitol rotunda dome, "The Apotheosis of Washington", by Constantino Brumidi (1805-1880). 4" x 2 1/4", three with cut corners. The Rotunda which took Brumidi 11 months to paint (Dec. 1864-Oct. 1865) was the crowning achievement and remains the Capitol's focal point. Together With Wolanin, Barbara, [curator] Constantino Brumidi: Artist of the Capitol, Washington, 1998, and a polychrome mixed media plaque with gilt rim. Plaque, D: 15 1/2".