Introduction
Different art pieces convey unique idea of the artist and aims to address the viewer through the visual representation of artistic image. However, the interpretation of the piece of art can vary significantly among the viewers. This phenomenon stems from the different factors, like personal vision, set of values, perception of art piece, cultural background, and knowledge. One of the art pieces that contains a disguised meaning is the Study for the Apotheosis of Washington in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol Building created in 1865 by Constantino Brumidi, the painter with diverse cultural background that combines Greek, Italian, and American roots. The painting is created in the Greek style. The artist used the oil painting method. Unlike other paintings, this art piece is painted on circular canvas and the characters are placed through the boarder lines of the canvas as well as in the center of the painting. The most significant part of this piece was that the several characters in the paintings are the representatives of typical American upper class of the 18th century. This art piece is trying to convey the greatness of the discovery of the United States of America. As aforementioned, the painting looks very similar to the classic myths.
It was decided to use Greek mythology as a lens for the current research, as Constantino Brumidi draws the parallels between the formation of the U.S. and the element of inception existing in the myths. By composing his book, Robin Hard managed to collect the most prominent Greek myths following the main Gods depicted in their storylines. “The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology” by Hard is utilized for the purposes of analysis. Also, Roman mythological basis serves as the additional assistance for the study due to their similarity in mythological structure and symbolism with the Greek myths. “A Handbook of Greek Mythology: Including Its Extension to Rome” by Herbert Rose was selected for the purposes to serve as the secondary source for data analysis. The author analyzed the Greek mythological structure in comparison with the myths emerged during the Roman Empire, which represents an important basis in the analysis of the symbolism of the painting.
The rationale for the research claims that the Apotheosis of Washington in the Rotunda conveys the concept of interrelation between the patronization of divinity and the symbol of inception in formation of the United States that the artist encapsulated in his work. This claim is supported by the Greek and Roman mythological domain that personified the Gods and connected all social, political, and natural transformations to the will of Gods. In the following analysis, the myths are used for supporting this argument through the method of comparison and contrast with each element presented in the paining.
Description
The figures illustrated in the center of the rim play crucial part in the art piece and represent a crucial moment of the U.S. history. Overall, very center of the rim is occupied by the George Washington who sits in the chair surrounded by heavenly maidens. The figures surrounding the rim depict six different scenes that have certain symbolism to it and relate to the George Washington in the center. The entire style of the art piece relates to the Greek mythology, as this ancient culture managed to personify their gods and in some instances make their rules god-alike. It is possible to assume that Constantino Brumidi used the symbolism of Greek and Roman mythology in order to attach great importance to the beginning of the American history. Greek and Roman mythology tends to equip their gods with both divine and human characteristics, which makes this framework unique.
The painter makes the parallels between the actions of the first U.S. president and the personified gods depicted in the Greek and Roman mythology. In the myths, the gods were prone to intrude into the affairs of the mortals and intriguing in the Olympus. They married, loved, cheated, praised, and fought as the people do, which brought Greek and Roman gods closer to the people (Hard 23). It creates a parallel with the principles of democracy and the core of the American values that appreciate egalitarian structure and bring the leaders closer to the people. Therefore, it is possible to imply that the art piece addresses the formation of the United States and the main values that were implemented by the forefathers, in this case it is George Washington. The scenes symbolize certain areas of the social, economic, and political life that are embodied by the characters of the classic Greek and Roman mythology.
Analysis
The main element of inception is concentrated in the center of the paining. Here, George Washington is sitting in the center of the picture. The President occupies the part in the center, as the Zeus or Jupiter did in the Greek and Roman mythology. Both gods were the allfathers of the entire world and the new pantheon of gods in the myths (Hard 36). They were responsible for the inception of life on Earth, according to Greek and Roman mythology (Hard 36; Rose 29). In the same way, Washington was the forefather of the American nation and, therefore, he occupies the most important part in the painting serving as the core component of formation of the nation. In some instances, Zeus was surrounded by nymphs, who are the minor nature deities usually representing nature itself (Hard 15). In the picture, Washington is also surrounded by females in the upper part that can relate to the spirits that helped him to gain success in the U.S. Consequently, it is possible to conclude that the President symbolizes the creation of the American nation
Each element conveyed in the circle around Washington symbolizes the forces that assisted the forefather in the formation of the nations. For instance, to the left of the President it is possible to see a female holding a book of law. This illustration relates to the Greek goddess of justice, Dike. In the mythology, Dike was the patron of moral order and fair judgment (Hard 12). While she is usually depicted with the scales and being blindfolded, in the picture she holds the book of law. Such illustration is attributed to the legal status of Washington as the first legitimate president of the U.S. It also symbolizes the characteristics of Washington as the fair president. It is possible to imply that the symbolic representation of justice points to the legality of the U.S. formation.
The most important illustrations of the Greek myths are the six scenes located circularly around the rim. It is possible to speculate that the scenes represent the deities that helped Washington in his mission of formation of the nation. Right down in the painting it is possible to see a goddess that casts away the crowd. She holds the American flag and eagle as the most vivid symbols of the U.S. The woman represented in the paining is Victoria, who was the goddess of victory in Roman mythology (Rose 37). While Victoria is not usually depicted with the weapon, the painter depicted her with the sword that symbolizes the constant conflict with Britain or the indigenous people. Also, Victoria here symbolizes the specificity of the creation of the U.S., which was made through the conquest. Consequently, this representation of the victory consolidates the formation of the U.S. making a claim that the land was won through the multiple fights.
One of the strongest symbols of the formation of the state is represented in the top of the paining. It is possible to see the travelers and a Greek god Hermes leading them. In the U.S. culture, Americans are usually described as the travelers due to the specificity of the U.S. creation. The artist aimed to show that the Americans came to the country from different countries and only the patronage of certain deity managed to unite them together. In Greek myths, Hermes is the god that helped travelers; he also represented the boundaries and transitions, trade, as well as thieves and crossing the border (Hard 64). The illustration of Hermes in the paining is symbolic, as the U.S. underwent major processes of transitions and changes in order to become one nation. This scene points to the same conclusion, claiming that the U.S. was formed as the land for the newcomers, even though it was made through bloodshed.
One of the scenes shows that the deities were benevolent for the American formation by providing all possible advantages. In the down right corner it is possible to notice people harvesting the crops led by Demeter, who was the goddess of harvest, fruitfulness, and fertility (Hard 48). It can be linked to the multiple lands that fed the Americans with fruits, vegetables, and grains since the beginning of time. Sometimes, Demeter is thought to be the goddess of cycles of life and death and as the entire paining is constructed in the form of cycle, this illustration is self-explanatory. Here, the artist managed to draw parallels between the precise order and the rules existing in the U.S. under which it was created.
It is a well-known fact that Americans worked hard to gain strengths, which was illustrated by the painter in the top of the paining. The viewer can see a group of people who are occupied with work in certain crafts guided by Hephaestus, who was the patron of crafts, fire, and artisans (Rose 26). The association here is quite simple, as the Americans are hardworking nation that fostered industrialization and technical development. The main conclusion here is that the nation managed to progress thanking to hard work and the talent of simple working people, which is represented in the scene.
Gods of the sea in Greek and Roman myths symbolized chaotic element, where the patronization of these gods was considered to be a great luck and symbolized the ability to overcome difficulties. Top left corner of the painting is occupied by Poseidon depicted traditionally on the horse in the sea and accompanied by several companions. It is possible to notice the ship behind the group with the Poseidon, which could represent the transitional and moving force taking the country to the future. It is possible to conclude that the artist showed that despite the chaos and difficulties that were evident in the beginning of the U.S. formation, the nation managed to develop into a stable country.
Intelligence and development of science also generated the U.S. formation and evolvement, which is illustrated in the left lower corner that shows the gathering of the academics and Athena who was a patron of science, wisdom, and literature in Greek mythology (Rose 31). This scene symbolizes the scientific progress and the eagerness of inquiry in the U.S. citizens. This message points to the patronage of divine spirits that were responsible for the development and inception of the nation.
Evaluation
The entire discussion was surrounded around the parallels between the Greek and Roman mythology and the American history, specifically its initial formation. The painter illustrates five elements or spheres that are the most important fields for the nation. The artist puts the first president in the center of the work, which clearly symbolizes his essential role in the formation and development of the U.S. By providing the illustration of Greek gods, the artist aimed to emphasize the grandiosity and importance of the formation of the nation. The paining assigns the characteristics of divinity to the president and the five areas that symbolize development and progress. The circular form of the work emphasizes the circle of everything in nature. This circulation is guarded by nymphs and other godly creatures that guide the U.S. into the future. The Greek mythology is particularly symbolic and rich in metaphors that it provides an ideal basis to serve as the lens for the researcher.
Also, all divinities here are related to the central element of inception here, like the Greek gods were related to Zeus. Each of the depicted Gods relate to Zeus in terms of familial relations. For instance, Athena and Hephaestus are Zeus’ children; Poseidon and Demeter are his sister and brother (Rose 49). Only Nike, or Victoria in Roman myth, does not have such relation to Zeus, yet she is always represented as a deity in Greek mythology, not as the goddess with the same status as, for example Athena or Hera (Hard 71). The familial relation points to the interrelation of all elements in the nature and history making the Americans closely related to each other. It is possible to conclude that the interconnection of all elements of formation emphasizes the link among all components during the inception of the nation.
Conclusion
In order to conclude the study, it is possible to have a glimpse at the painting one more time. The things that seemed weird during the first look, like Washington in his time-inappropriate cloths or the ship, now is perceived as normal because the meaning of these illustration is quite clear now. The painting relates to the symbol of formation of the nation through the efforts of Washington and many Americans with the patronization of deities. The artist draws parallels between the symbol of inception of everything in the world and the creation of the U.S. According to the symbolism of the painting, the nation was formed due to the patronage of several divinities that helped Washington to develop the U.S. It is possible to claim that the painting represents a life in its cyclic form and its dynamics that do not change from generation to generation.
Works Cited
Hard, Robin. The Routledge Handbook of Greek Mythology. London: Routledge, 2004. Print.
Rose, Herbert. A Handbook of Greek Mythology: Including Its Extension to Rome. London: Routledge, 1991. Print.
