Hundreds and thousands of visitors from every congressional district in America and from all parts of our Nation visit our Capitol. They view with admiration and with great awe the work of Brumidi. Constantino Brumidi. the artist. was a political refugee from Italy who brought his career to an abrupt halt when he vowed he would not paint another stroke until he had found liberty. In 1852. at the age of 47. he sailed for the United States. and here he found the freedom he had sought for so long. He began his work in the Capitol in 1855. and for 25 years thereafter. he worked devotedly and with all the strength and talent that he possessed to beautify the Capitol.